Baseline characteristics of players recruited to each study arm
| Variable | C (n = 111) | MG (n = 190) |
|---|---|---|
| Division, n (%) | ||
| II | 43 (39%) | 51 (27%) |
| III | 11 (10%) | 74 (39%) |
| IV | 57 (51%) | 65 (34%) |
| Team, n (%) | ||
| Seniors | 76 (69%) | 127 (67%) |
| Under 18 | 11 (10%) | 44 (23%) |
| Under 16 | 24 (22%) | 19 (10%) |
| Age (mean (SD)) | ||
| Seniors | 26 (4.6) | 24 (5.1) |
| Juniors | 16 (1.1) | 17 (1.2) |
| BMI (mean (SD)) | ||
| Seniors | 27 (3.1) | 26 (2.7) |
| Juniors | 23 (3.4) | 23 (3.0) |
| Previous head/orofacial or neck injury, n (%) | ||
| Yes | 17 (15%) | 31 (16%) |
| No | 94 (85%) | 159 (84%) |
| Wore mouthguard in previous season, n (%) | ||
| Yes | 89 (79%) | 176 (90%) |
| No | 22 (21%) | 14 (10%) |
| Pre-season mouthguard risk taking behavior score (mean (SD)) | 19.1 (2.5) | 19.5 (2.6) |
| Perception of head injury risk | ||
| None/low | 67 (61%) | 97 (52%) |
| Moderate | 37 (34%) | 72 (38%) |
| High | 6 (5%) | 19 (10%) |
| Perception of mouth/dental injury risk | ||
| None/low | 22 (21%) | 25 (13%) |
| Moderate | 53 (50%) | 94 (50%) |
| High | 32 (30%) | 68 (36%) |