Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are a significant concern in youth soccer and may have long term consequences for athlete health and participation. Although ACL injury prevention programs (ACLIPP) have been shown to reduce injury risk, little is known about the awareness and willingness of youth soccer coaches in Montana to implement these programs. A cross-sectional survey was distributed to youth soccer coaches across Montana during the spring season. The anonymous, voluntary survey collected information on coaching experience, coaching licensure, athlete age and gender, prior experience with ACL injuries among players, and current use of ACL injury prevention programs. Coaches were also asked about their willingness to implement an ACL-IPP if educational resources and implementation guidance were provided. Results showed that 56% of coaches reported having at least one athlete sustain an ACL tear during their coaching career. Despite this, 78% reported not currently implementing an ACL injury prevention program during team training. However, 89% indicated they would be willing to implement an ACL-IPP if provided with resources and education, while the other 11% reported they might consider implementation depending on time constraints. These findings suggest ACL injury prevention programs are currently underutilized in Montana youth soccer but that coaches demonstrate strong interest in adopting them. Accessible educational resources, such as brief online modules or video demonstrations, may facilitate program implementation and improve injury prevention
efforts among youth athletes.
