## 3 Injury Incidence  
The incidence of injuries in sports is typically reported as rates per 1000 h of player exposure during matches or training sessions ((\(\Sigma\) injuries/\(\Sigma\) hours) \(\times\) 1000)) [9, 19]. Most prior reviews have focused on injury incidence in senior female soccer players (older than 18 years) [20, 21, 22]. For example, a systematic review with metanalysis by [PERSON] et al. [19] reported an overall injury incidence of 6.1 (95% CI 4.6-7.7) injuries per 1000 h of exposure, with rates of 19.2 (95% CI 16-22.4) and 3.5 (95% CI 2.4-4.6) injuries per 1000 h of exposure for matches and training sessions, respectively. Similarly, [PERSON] et al. [21] observed an injury incidence of 6.7 injuries per 1000 h (95% CI 6.4-7.0) across four consecutive seasons (2018-2021) in 596 players from 15 elite women's teams in Europe, with rates of 18.4 (95% CI 16.9-19.9) and 4.8 (95% CI 4.5-5.1) injuries per 1000 h for matches and training sessions, respectively. While physical demands in soccer vary depending on the level of play (e.g., youth, amateur, elite club, international), high injury incidence rates have been consistently reported across all levels [22]. Specifically, elite youth female soccer players exhibit a significantly higher injury incidence during matches (22.4 per 1000 h) compared to training (4.6 per 1000 h) [23]. A study examining 375 players across six soccer academies in age groups (U10-U16) reported an overall incidence of 2.1 injuries per 1000 h (95% CI 1.7-2.5), with match and training rates of 11.5 (95% CI 9.1-14.4) and 1.5 (95% CI 1.2-1.9) injuries per 1000 h, respectively. Similarly, [PERSON] et al. [3] analyzed time-loss injuries over eight seasons (2012-2020) in English youth international female players (U15-U19) and found that match injury incidence reached 27.6 \(\pm\) 11.3 injuries per 1000 h, compared to 5.1 \(\pm\) 1.8 injuries per 1000 h during training. The burden of injuries during matches (506.7 \(\pm\) 350.2 daysabsent/1000 h) was notably higher than during training (87.6 \(\pm\) 32.8 days absent/1000 h), reinforcing the increased risk and impact of match play. Furthermore, a group \(\times\) season interaction was observed, with higher training injury rates recorded in senior players compared to youth players during certain periods. Complementing these findings, a meta-analysis by [PERSON] et al. [9] reported an overall injury incidence of 6.77 per 1000 h in youth female players, with match-related injury rates being significantly higher than those in training. Injury rates systematically increased with age, peaking in the U16 age group at 3.2 injuries per 1000 h (95% CI 2.4-4.2), with a match-specific rate of 13.7 injuries per 1000 h (95% CI 9.6-19.6) [24]. These findings align with previous studies suggesting a relatively low injury risk for players under 12 years [25] and trends observed in male players [26]. Several factors contribute to higher injury rates in more experienced youth players, often referred to as older players in this context, including increased training exposure (4-6 h per week plus 1-2 matches) [27], heightened match demands [28; 29], and physiological changes related to growth and maturation [30]. Girls typically attain peak height and body mass around age 15, often without corresponding increases in relative strength [31]. This imbalance can predispose this subgroup to injuries due to soft tissue strain exceeding mechanical tolerance [32]. Therefore, future studies must address the interaction between growth, maturation, and injury risk in female athletes. In recreational youth female soccer players, higher injury rates have been reported, including 4.6 injuries per 1000 h during matches in 6-16-year-olds [25] and 7.6-9.1 injuries per 1000 h in 13-17-year-olds [6; 33]. A recent review by [PERSON] et al.