A preseason movement assessment helps prevent this.

If you’re a parent, coach, athletic trainer, or athlete, a simple question matters:

What if we could identify the highest-risk movement patterns and strength gaps—before the first scrimmage?

That’s exactly what a 30-minute preseason screening is designed to do.

This blog covers:

• What a preseason movement assessment is (and what it isn’t)

• Who benefits most

• What we screen in 30 minutes

• How results translate into a sport-specific injury prevention plan

• How teams and schools can implement a screening program quickly

To explore a team or school screening program, or to schedule an individual baseline:

• Sports Medicine + PT (program + medical integration): https://princetonmedicine.com

• Performance + strength programming integration: https://psfmwellness.com,  https://fusesportsperformance.com/

What is a preseason screening (and why it works)?

A preseason movement assessment is a structured screen that identifies:

• Mobility restrictions (ankle/hip/thoracic spine)

• Strength and control deficits (hips/core/shoulders)

• Balance and single-leg stability issues

• Landing and deceleration mechanics

• Asymmetries side-to-side (often a risk flag)

• Sport-specific movement limitations (running, cutting, jumping, throwing)

It’s not a “pass/fail test.” It’s a risk and readiness snapshot—with actionable next steps.

Why it matters

Most injuries aren’t “bad luck.” They occur when:

• Load increases quickly (tryouts, two-a-days, tournaments)

• Movement quality breaks down under fatigue

• Strength and control can’t keep up with demands

• Small pain signals are ignored until they become big injuries

A preseason screen finds the weak links early so you can fix them with a short, targeted plan.

Who should do a preseason movement assessment?

Preseason screens are helpful for many athletes, but they’re especially high-value for:

• First-time high school athletes (new intensity and volume)

• Athletes returning from injury (ankle sprain, ACL, stress injury, shoulder pain)

• Multi-sport athletes transitioning between seasons

• Athletes with recurring pain (knee pain, shin splints, low back pain, shoulder pain)

• Athletes in high-risk sports (soccer, lacrosse, football, basketball, baseball/softball, track, cross-country, swimming)

If a student has had an injury in the past year—or is entering a higher level of competition—a baseline screen is one of the best investments you can make.

What happens during a 30-minute preseason screen?

A well-designed screen is fast, athlete-friendly, and produces clear next steps.

Typical components

1) Brief injury + training history

• Prior injuries, current symptoms, workload changes, growth spurts, sleep/nutrition basics

2) Mobility checks

• Ankle dorsiflexion

• Hip rotation/extension

• Thoracic spine mobility

• Shoulder mobility (for throwing/overhead sports)

3) Strength and control

• Hip strength (glute med/max)

• Core control and trunk stability

• Single-leg control (step-down / single-leg squat)

• Calf and hamstring capacity (running sports)

4) Movement patterns

• Squat/hinge mechanics

• Landing mechanics (jump/land)

• Cutting/deceleration (as appropriate)

• Shoulder/scapular mechanics for throwers

5) Summary + plan
You leave with:

• A clear risk profile

• 2–4 “priority fixes” (not 20 exercises)

• A short warm-up + strength plan tailored to the athlete and sport

• Guidance on training modifications (if needed)

For schools/teams, results can be delivered as:

• Individual athlete reports

• Team-wide “risk trends” summary (e.g., ankle mobility deficits, hip weakness prevalence)

• Recommended warm-up protocols and micro-programs by sport/position

What injuries can screening help prevent?

While no screening eliminates risk, it can meaningfully reduce preventable injuries by addressing common drivers of overload and poor mechanics.

Common high school injuries we target:

• Knee pain / runner’s knee (PFPS)

• ACL risk factors (landing/cutting mechanics, hip control)

• Ankle sprains (balance/control deficits)

• Shin splints and stress reactions (load errors, calf/foot capacity)

• Hamstring strains (strength imbalance, sprint tolerance)

• Hip flexor/groin strains (mobility/strength mismatch)

• Throwing shoulder and elbow pain (scapular control, workload management)

What does an “injury prevention program” look like?

The best programs are simple enough to be done consistently.

A strong prevention plan typically includes:

• A 6–10 minute dynamic warm-up (movement prep)

• 2–3 strength “anchors” (done 2–3x/week)

• Sport-specific add-ons:

  • Cutting/landing mechanics for soccer/lacrosse/basketball

  • Throwing prep for baseball/softball

  • Running capacity work for track/XC

  • Shoulder stability for swimmers/overhead athletes

If you’re a coach searching for an “injury prevention program soccer” or “injury prevention program lacrosse,” the goal isn’t to do everything—it’s to do the few high-impact things consistently.

For performance-driven programming options and progression support:

• https://psfmwellness.com,  https://fusesportsperformance.com/

How teams and schools can implement preseason screenings

We commonly help teams implement screenings in one of three ways:

Option 1: Team-based “screening day”

• Efficient for an entire roster

• Great before tryouts or in week 1–2 of preseason

• Generates team-wide trends + individual action plans

Option 2: Targeted screening for higher-risk athletes

• Athletes returning from injury

• Athletes with pain or recurring issues

• High-volume athletes (club + school overlap)

Option 3: Ongoing seasonal re-checks

• Mid-season check-in for athletes with symptoms

• Post-season review to plan off-season training

To explore a screening event for your team/school:

• Team/school screening inquiry: https://princetonmedicine.com

Parents: Why this is worth it (even if your athlete “feels fine”)

Many high school injuries happen in athletes who felt fine—until they weren’t.

Screening helps identify:

• Compensation patterns after an old ankle sprain

• Strength deficits during/after growth spurts

• Mechanics that are “fine” at low speed but collapse under fatigue

• Workload spikes that need a smart ramp plan

It’s proactive healthcare for sport—meant to keep athletes in the season, not in the training room.

Ready to prevent the preventable?

If you want to keep athletes healthy and performing well this season:

1) Team/school screening inquiry
Set up a preseason screening day or a team injury prevention plan:

• https://princetonmedicine.com

2) Individual baseline assessment appointment
Perfect for athletes with prior injury, recurring pain, or big preseason goals:

• https://princetonmedicine.com

For performance integration (strength, conditioning, movement coaching) alongside the medical/rehab team:

• https://psfmwellness.com,  https://fusesportsperformance.com/

Medical note: This article is for general education and does not replace individualized medical care. Athletes with acute injury, significant pain, swelling, or inability to participate should be evaluated promptly.

Author

Peter Wenger, MD Peter C. Wenger, MD, is an orthopedic and non-operative sports injury specialist at Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, P.C., in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. He is board certified in both family medicine and sports medicine. Dr. Wenger brings a unique approach to sports medicine care with his comprehensive understanding of family medicine, sports medicine, and surgery. As a multisport athlete himself, he understands a patient’s desire to safely return to their sport.