Longitudinal monitoring of anterior cruciate ligament integrity in youth female rugby league athletes

Intervention: Standard Strength and Conditioning (S&C) + targeted Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) loading programme. In addition to standard S&C, participants will complete an ACL-targeted programme incorporating exercises aligned with high-load knee extensor and posterior chain demands and controlled exposure to deceleration/landing/cutting patterns. The programme includes (as examples): • Nordic hamstring variations • Isometric knee-dominant strength exposures • Tibial stress/control drills • Progressive plyometrics and change-of-direction (COD) and resisted deceleration tasks Progression will follow planned overload (approximately 8–10% weekly progression, with deload weeks as required), with close technique supervision and workload management. Injury prevention evidence supports the importance of structured neuromuscular programmes and adherence. While Nordic hamstring evidence is strongest for hamstring injury reduction, it is included here as part of posterior chain capacity development relevant to knee loading and braking demands. The programme will be run by two University Academics with professional strength and conditioning experience. The sessions will be run as a group session i.e. 1:~20 participant ratio. Intervention will run for 15 weeks, 2 days a week (Monday and Thursday) for roughly 45 mins. Each participant will be required to complete a session attendance and weekly activity questionnaire. Participants allocation to the intervention group will be achieve by participants choice.