Summary: <p>Professor Jiri Dvorak, one of BJSM’s senior associate editors, shares his 17 years experience as the FIFA chief medical officer. He discusses</p><p> How FIFA have reduced injuries in football [1],</p><p> The evidence for football being a great medicine [2 a ,b]</p><p> ‘Football for Health’ – FIFA’s successful foray into public health education in schools [3].</p><p>This is a terrific story of research turning into action – improved health for football players and football players contributing to improve the health of their society.</p><p>See also:</p><p>[1] Injuries and illness of football players during the 2010 FIFA world Cup http://bit.ly/11gDgdG</p><p>[2a] Executive summary: The health and fitness benefits of regular participation in small-sided football games http://bit.ly/17Mntpu</p><p>[2b] Give Hippocrates a jersey: promoting health through football/sport http://bit.ly/15DIc21</p><p>[3] ‘11 for Health’, a football-based health education programme for children: a two-cohort study in Mauritius and Zimbabwe http://bit.ly/13rSMVR</p>
