'Have a hmmm' now to peak for kick-off
You may think winter sports injuries peak later in the season when the competition heats up and the fields get wet and muddy. But most people actually get injured at the start of the season, find out why and how you can avoid becoming one of them.
Our latest figures show last year’s injury claims for rugby union, football, netball, basketball and rugby league peaked in May, when most club seasons get under way.
Rugby had the most new claims across 2022 with 51,365, followed by football (39,424), basketball (21,617), netball (21,146) and league (6,637). The total cost of supporting people to recover from these injuries was $237 million.
The most common injuries nationally were soft-tissue injuries, such as sprains and strains, with an average of 122,000 claims per year – almost 10 times more than fractures and dislocations.
ACC injury prevention leader James Whitaker says a major reason for this is people jumping straight into action without the proper pre-season training.
“A lot of people are surprised to hear that winter sports injuries don’t peak in July and August - they peak as soon as the season starts. The best thing you can do to avoid them is to be prepared,” James says.
“We want everyone to get out and enjoy the sports they love. So don’t go too hard, too soon. Gradually increase your training intensity well before the season starts – at least halfway through March and all of April.”
Getting the most out of your winter sport
Along with a pre-season programme tailored to your sport, our top tips to avoid injury include always warming up before training and games, working on core strength and balance, practising sport-specific movements and taking time to rest and recover.
To help raise awareness about injury prevention, our interactive statue 'The Thinker' will be on site at the Community Connect E Tū Whānau Sports Festival at the Whangarei Netball Centre this Saturday (18 March).
The free whānau-friendly event is open to people of all ages and abilities, with the opportunity to have a go at four different sports - basketball, volleyball, netball and touch rugby.
It’s the first of its kind in the region and was organised with support from Whangarei Netball, Northland Basketball, Northland Volleyball, Te Tai Tokerau Touch and Community Connect.
“The main kaupapa is giving our community, and people who don’t play traditional sports, that whānau engagement post-Covid,” organiser Steven Beazley says.
“It’s a great chance to get involved in something positive after the full-on weather we’ve had as well.”
The Thinker spreading the safety message
The Thinker is designed to encourage people to assess the risk before getting stuck into their chosen activity.
A QR code on the statue links to injury prevention advice for the relevant activity – in this case, the ACC SportSmart programme.
ACC SportSmart contains a range of resources for players, coaches and referees to improve performance and reduce injury risk.
Optimise performance and keep injury free with ACC SportSmart
These resources include targeted preparation and conditioning programmes for netball, football, rugby and rugby league, as well as other general information and training resources.
There will be a group warm-up at the E Tū Whānau Sports Festival using principles of the ACC SportSmart.
The ReSport Charitable Trust will also be launching its new initiative at the festival, aimed at removing barriers to participation in Te Tai Tokerau.
ReSport aims to empower all Northlanders with a sporting chance by collecting and distributing used and new sports gear to people in the region.
Top tips to avoid injury this season
- Gradually increase training intensity and contact training
- Spend time working on core strength and balance
- Practise sport-specific movements you will need to use in a game
- Use the ACC SportSmart warm-up before training and games
- Take enough time to rest and recover
