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Epidemiology of Women’s Japanese Collegiate Football Team Injuries: A Nine-Year Study [Received September 7, 2024; Accepted March 12, 2025] Football is a sport where lower limb injuries are common in both genders. However, injury investigations have primarily focused on male players, with fewer studies addressing women. Specifically, there is limited research on injury epidemiology among women’s collegiate football players, leaving the current situation unclear. This study examines the epidemiology of injuries in women’s collegiate football over a nine-year period, focusing on (1) overall injury incidence, (2) injury location and type, (3) injury mechanism and circumstance, (4) injury severity and burden, and (5) recurrent injuries. The aim is to contribute to the existing knowledge on sports injuries and provide practical insights to mitigate injury risks and enhance the safety of women’s collegiate football players. Over nine seasons, a total of 357 injuries were recorded, of which 281 (78.7%) were classified as traumatic injuries and 76 (21.3%) as overuse injuries. The overall injury incidence rate was 5.4/1000 player hours. Data analysis revealed that ankle sprains were the most frequent injury, while ACL injuries caused the highest injury burden. Injury rates and burdens were significantly higher during matches compared to training. To mitigate match-related injuries, strategies should include monitoring individual player factors, adjusting training parameters (frequency, intensity, volume, type), and differentiating warm-up routines between training and matches. Keywords: women, incidence, injury burden |