Integrated Tripartite Empowerment Model in Accelerating Literacy of Acute Injury Management Based on POLICE Protocols in Football Academies

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FORMOSA NEWS - Malang - An innovative sports medicine program successfully eliminated the health literacy gap regarding acute injury management in youth football academies. Conducted by researcher Moch. Yunus, Nanang Tri Wahyudi, Lucretia Zalfa Shabira, Moh. Abduh Malik, Lintang Nirmalasari Gemalocahaya Manggolono, Zhafira Alya Putri Krisnafi from Universitas Negeri Malang, this community development project took place in 2026 at the Batu Football Academy (BAFA). The findings matter because immediate and correct medical intervention within the first 72 hours of an injury determines the long-term career survival and functional recovery of young athletes.

The Danger of Traditional Treatment and the Shift to POLICE Protocols
Modern youth football academies train talented players under highly competitive schedules. This intense training structure frequently leads to acute musculoskeletal injuries like ankle sprains, knee strains, and contusions. Physiologically, the first 24 to 72 hours following a physical trauma represent a critical "golden window". Traditional and unscientific handling during this phase, such as applying deep tissue massage to an acute injury, causes severe medical complications. These incorrect practices disrupt blood clotting, expand internal bleeding, and trigger abnormal bone tissue formation within the muscle, known as myositis ossificans. For decades, the standard emergency response was the RICE protocol, which stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. However, modern sports medicine has transitioned to the POLICE protocol, which replaces rigid rest with Optimal Loading. Clinical data proves that total immobilization causes muscle wasting and slows recovery. Conversely, progressive and controlled physical loading stimulates cellular recovery and accelerates tissue repair. Despite these medical advances, an interrupted chain of communication often hinders effective injury management. While coaches may know the basic theory, youth athletes frequently hide their pain out of fear of losing tSheir position on the starting team. Meanwhile, parents at home often rely on traditional myths and counterproductive non-medical treatments. This fundamental health literacy gap increases the risk of reinjury among youth players.

Simplifying Injury Management Methods for Grassroots Sports
To resolve this issue, the Universitas Negeri Malang research team implemented the Integrated Tripartite Empowerment Model. This structural program brought together coaches, athletes, and parents into a single synchronized educational circle. The study monitored 63 active participants at the Batu Football Academy, consisting of 3 professional coaches, 30 teenage athletes, and 30 parents. The methodology followed four sequential stages to guarantee lasting behavioral change:

• Preparation Phase: The team signed a formal agreement with the football academy management and created a targeted sports medicine curriculum.
  
• Baseline Assessment: The researchers distributed a digital questionnaire via Google Forms to evaluate existing knowledge and identify cultural misconceptions.
  
• Targeted Interventions: The project executed a three-pronged education campaign. Coaches learned to design neuromuscular-based warm-up programs and calculate optimal physical loading. Athletes engaged with interactive multimedia to build body awareness and dismantle the culture of hiding injuries. Parents participated in hands-on clinical workshops practicing ice therapy and compression bandaging.
  
• Evaluation Phase: The team analyzed post-intervention data and developed an official Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for integrated injury risk mitigation.
  

Key Findings: A Dramatic Surge in Health Literacy
The structural program delivered by Universitas Negeri Malang generated an immediate and circular spike in injury management comprehension across all three groups. The quantified results proved the effectiveness of using interactive, problem-based learning over traditional lecture methods:

• Football Coaches: Already possessing a strong initial baseline, the coaching group increased their high-level comprehension rating from 67% to a perfect 100% in the very high knowledge category.
  
• Youth Athletes: The young players experienced a massive transformation in mindset, with high-level medical understanding jumping from 37% to 83%.
  
• Parents: Recording the lowest initial metrics due to cultural habits, the parent group achieved the most significant acceleration, skyrocketing from 33% to 77% in the high comprehension category.
  

Real-World Impact and Institutional Implications

The real-world benefits of this research extend across youth sports education, family care, and athletic safety policies. By training coaches in dynamic warm-up frameworks like FIFA 11+ Kids, academies can reduce non-contact sports injuries by up to 50%. Additionally, teaching young athletes that physical pain is a protective warning signal prevents the dangerous habit of injury concealment, protecting their future professional careers. At home, the program eliminates reliance on dangerous deep-tissue massages for fresh injuries. Parents are now equipped with specific medical skills:

• Protection: Securing the injured joint with simple splints to avoid secondary trauma.
  
• Optimal Loading: Managing daily steps and movements to stimulate tissue repair without overstrain.
  
• Ice: Administering ice packs for 15 to 20 minutes every two hours to reduce localized cellular metabolism.
  
• Compression: Applying elastic wraps from the lower extremity upward to control swelling.
  
• Elevation: Resting the injured limb 15 to 20 centimeters above heart level to assist blood flow.
  

Author Profile
Dr. dr. Moch. Yunus, M.Kes. is a prominent medical doctor, sports scientist, and researcher at the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Negeri Malang, Indonesia. He specializes in exercise physiology, sports injury rehabilitation, and community-based health interventions designed to optimize youth athletic development and safety.

Source

Moch. Yunus, Nanang Tri Wahyudi, Lucretia Zalfa Shabira, Moh. Abduh Malik, Lintang Nirmalasari Gemalocahaya Manggolono, Zhafira Alya Putri Krisnafi. Integrated Tripartite Empowerment Model in Accelerating Literacy of Acute Injury Management Based on POLICE Protocols in Football Academies.  Asian Journal of Community Services (AJCS). Vol. 5 No. (6), Halaman 347-358.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/ajcs.v5i6.35
URL: https://journalajcs.my.id/index.php/ajcs