From 28 to 30 June, FIFA is running a football medicine course at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore. Two FIFA instructors from New Zealand and one member of the FIFA Medical and Anti-Doping Department will conduct a three-day course for approximately 25 participants.

The course is aimed at informing medical representatives from the Football Association of Singapore and the region about the newest treatments for football-related injuries and best practices for injury prevention as well as transferring knowledge about tournament medical services and requirements.

It is hoped that this will encourage other football associations to do the same, thereby helping FIFA fulfil its commitment to improving the level of football medicine and ensuring the best level of care for all players everywhere.

A wide range of topics will be covered, such as the role of the team doctor, minimum stadium medical requirements, injury prevention, pre-competition medical assessment, concussion and anti-doping. A series of practical workshops will also be held to focus on clinical examination techniques, case studies, demonstrations and exercises on injury prevention, and assessment of injuries.

Emergency football medicine, including sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), is a particularly important topic. Participants will be taught how to remove injured players from the field of play as well as how to manage neck injuries and handle concussion. SCA training will include spotting the signs of an SCA, emergency treatment steps as well as preventive measures with hands-on training of CPR and how to use a defibrillator. SCA awareness posters will also be distributed.

In addition, the participants will be given more information about the FIFA Diploma in Football Medicine, a free online course with 42 modules written by international experts. It is designed to help anyone learn how to diagnose and manage common football-related injuries and illnesses.

The third day of training, on the topic of emergency football medicine, will be for referees. Referees will receive theoretical and practical training including how to deal with concussion on the field of play, the role of the referee, coach and team doctor, removing a player from the field of play, diagnosing and managing a sudden cardiac arrest and how to use an automated external defibrillator.

In the run-up to the event, FIFA instructor Mark Fulcher remarked, “I am looking forward to meeting my football-medicine colleagues in Singapore and sharing ideas and information about how to prevent and manage football-related injuries. It is exciting to be part of this pilot project which has been designed specifically for member associations to build on the educational opportunities provided by the FIFA Medical Network.”

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