Injury prevention and management represent essential competencies for athletes, particularly in contact sports such as football, where physical strain is prevalent. However, limited empirical data exist concerning young athletes’ awareness of injury mechanisms, treatment procedures, and preventive strategies. This study aims to assess the knowledge level of Kancil Mas U-21 football players regarding sports injuries, including their treatment and prevention, using a descriptive statistical approach. Data were collected from 13 male athletes aged 19–21 via a structured questionnaire distributed through online platforms. The research utilized the Guttman scale to categorize responses and applied classification norms to interpret the knowledge level across three core domains: injury, treatment, and prevention. Findings revealed that the majority of athletes demonstrated a moderate understanding of injury occurrence and prevention, while knowledge related to treatment remained relatively low. The urgency of this research lies in the necessity to bridge knowledge gaps among young athletes to prevent long-term performance limitations and injury recurrence. The study's novelty stems from its focus on a semi-professional U-21 football cohort, offering insights rarely captured in mainstream sports injury literature. The contribution of this study is to inform targeted educational interventions in sports clubs and youth academies, ultimately strengthening health literacy, reducing injury incidence, and enhancing athletic performance continuity within the context of competitive football.
