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ORAL ABSTRACTS - FRIDAY, 22 MAY 2015(2) University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South AfricaBackground: The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), through their Goalproject, renovated Rufaro stadium from natural turf (NT) to artificial turf (AT). This was met withmixed feelings especially with regard to injuries sustained by football players. Zimbabwe has nopublished studies.Objectives: To determine the attitudes of players regarding the different football playing surfaces,the incidence and severity of injuries on AT and NT in all sixteen Zimbabwe's Premier SoccerLeague teams for the 2013 season. Methods: A questionnaire was used for the players attitudes anda prospective cohort was employed for the injuries. Match injuries were recorded using standardFIFA tools.Results: 325 players responded to the questionnaire of which 295(90.8%) preferred playing on NTand 250(76.9%) believed that AT was associated with more injuries. 364 injuries occurred during270 matches ( 4455 player hours (phrs)) of exposure giving an overall injury incidence of 81.7injuries/1000phrs. 69 matches (1138.5phrs) were on AT with an injury incidence of 85.2injuries/1000phrs while 201 matches (3316.5 phrs) were on NT with an incidence of 80.51injuries/1000-hrs.There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of injury betweenAT and NT [incidence rate ratio= 1.06; 95% CI: 0.84 – 1.34]. Injury severity ranged from31.6/1000phrs (on AT , mild category) to 1.8/1000phrs on NT severe category) with insignificantincidence rate ratios.Conclusion: Players believe that the AT is associated with an increased injury risk .There was nodifference in injury incidence rates and severity between the AT and NT.17:15 - 18:15S37 TESTING - PART IIS37.1Functional Movement Screen: poor relation with athletic performanceMatthew Attwood, S Roberts, KA Stokes, G TrewarthaUniversity of Bath, Bath, UKIntroduction: The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) comprises seven movement patternsdescribed as fundamental to athletic performance. This study investigated FMS scores in 436English community rugby union players and the relationship between FMS score and performancein a battery of fitness tests.Method: Players (age (mean±SD), 24.6±4.9 years; height, 180.5±6.7 cm; body mass, 93.4±13.4 kg;body fat, 14.3±5.1%) were stratified into three playing levels: Semi-professional (n=114); Amateur(n=194); and Recreational (n=128). Participants completed the FMS and vertical jump, isometricpull, 10-m and 40-m sprint, Illinois agility and Yoyo intermittent recovery level 1 (YOYO-IR1)performance tests.Results: Differences, determined by Kruskal-Wallis H test, indicated no differences in FMS scorebetween Semi-professional (FMS=14.3±2.8), Amateur (FMS=14.2±2.3) or Recreational(FMS=13.7±2.4) players (χ 2 (2)=3.11, P=.211). Differences were identified between Semi-156