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Background The FIFA 11+ program is efficacious in preventing lower extremity injuries in youth soccer players; however, its implementation remains a challenge. Coaches9 beliefs and actions regarding injury prevention may influence program implementation. Objective To describe baseline psychosocial factors and evaluate their relationship with intended FIFA 11+ implementation amongst youth soccer coaches, using the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) behaviour change model. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Community youth soccer. Participants Seventy-nine youth soccer coaches from across Canada who attended a FIFA 11+ workshop (Spring 2016) during a nationwide program implementation initiative. Assessment of Risk Factors A HAPA-based questionnaire was used to measure risk perceptions (RP), outcome expectancies (OE) and task self-efficacy (TSE) on a 7-point Likert scale. Scale levels were combined (positive, negative and neutral) to describe baseline values. Spearman correlation was used to assess relationship between factors and intention (INT) (with Bonferroni correction). Main Outcome Measurements INT to implement the FIFA 11+ in the successive soccer season as measured by the questionnaire. Results In total, 92.4% of coaches completed the survey. Most coaches (84.6%) believed the overall risk of injury in youth soccer was high (RP). 80.6% of coaches believed soccer injuries were preventable (OE1) and 94.4% believed that the FIFA 11+ would decrease injury risk (OE2). 69.1% were confident in their understanding of the FIFA 11+ (TSE1) and 76.8% were confident in their ability to use it (TSE2). Most coaches (82.5%) intended to use the program (INT). Only TSE2 was found to be significantly associated with INT (r s =0.42, p=0.001). Conclusions This preliminary analysis demonstrates that task self-efficacy relating to youth soccer coaches9 confidence in being able to use the FIFA 11+ correlates positively with their intention to implement the program. No other significant relations were found between the other psychosocial factors and coaches9 intention.

Background Coach-led delivery of the FIFA 11+ warm-up program is an effective strategy for program implementation. There is emerging evidence that coaches9 task self-efficacy (TSE) predicts FIFA 11+ implementation in youth soccer. Objective To determine the impact of a comprehensive FIFA 11+ workshop on youth soccer coaches9 TSE. Design Quasi-experimental pilot study. Setting Community youth soccer. Participants This study involved 73 Canadian coaches (66.7% male, aged 18–66 years) participating in a pilot pre-implementation FIFA 11+ workshop (Spring 2016). Interventions Experts with experience in program implementation delivered a coach workshop, comprising an extensive theory-based classroom session and a field-based practical demonstration of the FIFA 11+ program. Main Outcome Measurements A questionnaire was used to assess coaches9 TSE for implementing the FIFA 11+ on a 7-point Likert scale. Difference in the pre-post workshop ratings of TSE as measured by coaches9 confidence in both their understanding the FIFA 11+ program (TSE1) and their ability to use the program with their teams (TSE2). Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test analysis was used to assess any statistical differences between baseline and post-workshop ratings of TSE. Results Coaches had a median (1st, 3rd quartiles) baseline TSE1 rating of 6 (4, 6) and TSE2 rating of 6 (5, 6). There were statistical significant differences in coaches9 TSE1 (z=−3.99; p Conclusions A comprehensive FIFA 11+ workshop generated positive increases in coach TSE, which may help optimize program uptake and implementation. Further evaluation of this coach workshop strategy on behavioural and implementation outcomes will be performed in a large population of coaches across different cities in Canada in an ongoing nationwide implementation of the FIFA 11+ program in youth soccer.