## 9 Multicomponent Injury Prevention Programs in Youth Female Soccer: A Key Strategy for Athletes  
The high incidence of injuries in youth female soccer, particularly the elevated risk of severe knee injuries such as ACL ruptures [1], underscores the urgent need for prevention programs specifically tailored to this population [70; 103]. Female youth players experience higher ACL injury rates compared to their male counterparts, and adolescent girls are especially at risk [43; 104], which reinforces the necessity of investing resources into effective injury risk reduction strategies within female youth and sub-elite programs. Prioritizing the development of targeted interventions for younger and developing players is essential to ensure that they can progress to senior soccer with optimal health, well-being, and performance [105]. These programs should focus on personalized interventions that address the distinct injury risk profile of female players, shaped by their unique physiological and biomechanical characteristics. This approach eliminates the ineffective practice of merely adapting prevention strategies originally designed for men, which fail to meet the specific needs of female athletes. To maximize their impact, prevention programs must consider the context-specific factors of the playing group--such as sex, age, level of competition, and injury profile (e.g., as well as staffing, training formats, and facility availability). Such considerations are crucial for informing program content and optimizing adherence and implementation strategies [106]. Furthermore, tailored injury prevention programs can play a pivotal role in overcoming barriers to sports participation, including fear of injury and insufficient physical preparedness, challenges that are particularly prevalent among adolescent female footballers [105]. By addressing these factors, such programs not only reduce injury risk but also support continued participation and long-term athletic development. Recognizing the importance of preventive strategies in female soccer players, well-structured exercise-based programs are essential for mitigating the complex interplay of risk factors that contribute to injuries [71]. Injury prevention programs can be broadly categorized into two main approaches [105]: multi-component programs and single-component programs. Multi-component programs, commonly referred to as neuromuscular training programs, are often incorporated into the warm-up phase prior to a session, integrating elements such as balance, strength, agility, plyometrics, and running exercises. Through their comprehensive design, these programs effectively address multiple risk factors simultaneously, solidifying their role as a cornerstone of injury prevention strategies in sports [1]. For example, plyometric exercises such as drop jumps or single-leg hops aim to enhance landing mechanics and improve control during deceleration, while balance drills like single-leg stance with torso movements target neuromuscular control. Strengthening exercises, including Nordic hamstring curls and hip abductor work, are essential for improving posterior chain and lateral stability, particularly in female athletes who are at increased risk for ACL injuries. By incorporating these components, these programs target critical biomechanical and neuromuscular factors, enhancing key movement patterns and optimizing neuromuscular control [107], which is particularly crucial in soccer-specific scenarios. Specifically, these interventions help players maintain proper knee alignment, reducing the tendency for the knee to collapse medially during sudden changes in speed, soccer-specific movements, or physical contact with opponents [6]. As a result, multi-component neuromuscular training programs have been shown to significantly reduce injury rates, particularly for ACL, knee, and ankle injuries, with evidence demonstrating a 27% reduction in overall injuries and a 45% decrease in ACL injuries [105].