The Fifa 11+ injury prevention programme was launched by New Zealand Football medical director Dr Mark Fulcher and he sang the praises of the programme.
''It is an incredibly effective programme. To do it twice a week for 15 minutes each it can reduce ACL [knee] injuries by 50% and the risk of all injury by 30%,'' he said.
''With many ACL injuries they come from people having bad balance. They get into positions where they have to twist their knees.''
He said the warm-up revolved around movements and working on balance and strength.
He gave a practical demonstration to about 45 football coaches in Dunedin last night. The programme was being rolled out around the country.
The scheme was based on research carried out by American and Norwegian scientists and was used by football teams such as Barcelona and national teams from Spain, Germany and Brazil.
He said the traditional warm-up involving stretching muscles was not overly effective and studies had shown there was little long-term benefit.
With ACL injuries costing the country $50 million a year, he said reducing them by 50% would obviously be a big saving for the country.
He said a pilot programme run with a few teams for the past 18 months had not only reduced injury but had also helped players perform better as they were free of niggling injuries.
The ACC was interested in the scheme and was in partnership to introduce the programme.
The prevention programme reduced hamstring injuries by 60% and the recurrence of hamstring strains by 85%.
''Those numbers suggest everyone should be doing it. It really is a no-brainer.''
Fulcher said the other main winter codes, rugby, rugby league and netball, were all interested in the programme.
