It's true that game dynamics have changed over the past 10 years. It's also true the athleticism of players has increased tremendously during the same time period. There are more fouls and more tackles causing contact injuries.

Many studies are being done to sort out the cause of injuries among high-level female athletes. Injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament have been one area of major focus. There are many reasons offered for this: poor technique, lower skill level, lack of physical fitness, and hormone changes to name just a few.

With increased competition comes increased hours of training. Done properly with the right amount of warm-up, physical conditioning, and cool-down the athlete can enhance her performance. But more injuries are bound to occur when these elements are missing.