Children as young as 11 are hiding or playing down sports injuries, a New Zealand study has found.
Auckland University of Technology Sports Performance Research Institute surveyed football, netball and basketball coaches and netball and football players.
Of 262 netball and football players of both genders, more than 80% reported hiding or downplaying an injury to continue playing. More female netball players compared to male football players reported having hidden an injury and more than 80% of coaches and players had witnessed injured players playing on when they should not have.
The most frequent injuries were lower limb sprains and strains. A lack of player knowledge, the desire to win, and not letting the team down were key reasons given for playing on injured. Liking the sport and not wanting to stop was another reason, as well as playing on for the sake of the team.
A lack of understanding about the seriousness of the injury and long-term consequences was also a dominant theme, as was a lack of subs during games, the study found.