ABSTRACT
Unfortunately, sport and injury sometimes go hand in hand and therefore the coach should have at least some basic knowledge of how injuries occur and how to prevent them. If the coach follows health and safety guidelines, educates and prepares his or her performers appropriately and constructs a carefully planned training programme, then the potential for injury can be minimized. Sports scientists and coaches have recently developed the concept of “pre-conditioning” (pre-training) as a means of reducing injury and improving sports performance (Shepherd, 2006). Pre-conditioning means “training to train” and the focus is placed on protecting and strengthening the body parts which are susceptible to injury.
