PURPOSE The aims of this study were to prospectively investigate the seasonal incidence and epidemiological characteristics of sports injuries according to peak height velocity (PHV) status among Korean male adolescent soccer players and to examine the interaction effect between maturity and activity type on detailed injury patterns. METHODS A total of 70 middle-school soccer players participated in this prospective cohort study. Based on 6-month height velocity, players were categorized into Circa-PHV (n=43) and Post-PHV (n=27) groups. Details regarding anthropometrics, exposure hours, and all musculoskeletal injuries were collected using the IOC Injury and Illness Surveillance Guidelines. Injury incidence (per 1000 athlete-exposures, AE) and relative risk were analyzed using Poisson regression and descriptive statistics. RESULTS A total of 125 injuries were recorded. Poisson regression revealed no significant main effect of maturation on overall injury incidence (p=.944). However, a significant interaction effect was detected between maturation and activity type for noncontact injuries (p=.020), with the Circa-PHV group exhibiting the highest incidence during matches (84.39/1000 AE). Matches posed a 15.6-fold higher injury risk than training (IRR=15.59, 95% CI: 10.49–23.18, p<.001). Regarding injury types, the Post-PHV group showed a 2.5-fold greater risk of muscle strains than the Circa-PHV group (IRR=2.46, 95% CI: 1.09–5.53, p=.029). CONCLUSIONS PHV is a critical determinant of injury risk and patterns in adolescent soccer players. Circa-PHV represents a vulnerable window for noncontact injuries under high-intensity match demands, and Post-PHV is characterized by a transition toward increased muscle strain risks. These results emphasize the need for maturation-informed load management and individualized prevention strategies to ensure athlete safety and long-term performance.
