Football for health

Essential medical management

Football and health are a top priority for the FFF, and we rely on the work of the Medical Department to highlight the benefits of the sport and act on injury prevention. The FFF's Medical Department also supports all French national teams. The Centre Médical Sportif de Clairefontaine, equipped with the latest technologies, is part of a high-calibre network labelled “FIFA Medical Centres of Excellence”. It treats professional or elite footballers and athletes from other disciplines to rehabilitate them after an injury.

Key figures

Doctors and physiotherapists monitoring the French Teams.

1,080

Number of training days per year for doctors and physiotherapists in IUD P. Rochcongar.

3,000

Consultations per year at the Clairefontaine Medical Centre.

75,000

People trained in first aid.

The benefits of soccer

Bienfaits amélioration rythme cardiaque foot santé — Improved cardiovascular health and breathing

Through endurance, fast running and acceleration sequences.

Bienfaits coordination des mouvements foot santé — Coordination

Through speed and skill work.

Bienfaits amélioration centre gravité foot santé — Stability

By working on resistance, using all muscles and improving balance.

Bienfaits impact psychologique foot santé — Psychological impact

The pleasure of playing and the quest for winning as a team.

Our actions

Training and awareness campaigns

The FFF's medical department promotes the health benefits of playing football, while also raising awareness among those involved in the sport, about life-saving gestures, child protection and medical and psychological support. Injury prevention specifically focuses on injuries in amateur football, addictive practices and concussions. The Medical Department carries out scientific studies and makes recommendations. It oversees all sports medicine doctors in football and participates in the fight against doping in sport, alongside public bodies and authorities. The Medical Directorate oversees the development of sport participation with ministries and provides medical support to the LFA in leisure football.

Optimal monitoring at the elite level

The FFF's medical team rigorously monitors the health of its 18 national teams, elite athletes, professional players and referees. They also oversee injury prevention operations at the 24 Pôles Espoirs and take an active part in national and international anti-doping actions.

Dedicated training courses and publications

The FFF is dedicated to the continuing education of federal and professional club physicians. It created an inter-university diploma (IUD) dedicated to football medicine. It regularly organises a reputable medical congress. The FFF is a regular speaker for the UEFA and provides training courses abroad. It publishes the "Médifoot" magazine and provides advice and information on the FFF and Clairefontaine Medical Centre website.

Our advice to athletes

Nutrition - Image — Nutrition

Adopting good nutrition allows you to stay fit and improve your performance.

Prévention - Image — Prevention

Hygiene, diet, first aid or doping: prevention is at the heart of physical health.

Technique - Image — Technical

Do not force, do the right thing, prepare yourself well: health is also a question of technique.

Et aussi... - Image — And also...

Being healthy helps prevent accidents and reduces the risk of injury.

A state-of-the-art medical centre

The Clairefontaine Medical Centre is one of the few centres in the world to be labelled "Medical Centre of Excellence" by FIFA. It houses a rehabilitation centre for post-traumatic care, an assessment centre for individual assessments and a research and training centre that prepares the elite of sports medicine. Its state-of-the-art facilities and highly qualified medical staff enable elite athletes to return to the field quickly.