𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 #𝟮: Matches are becoming longer, increasing by more than 21% since 1999. Why does volume of work matter for players? Because the data shows that both increases in match length and total minutes played per month have a detectable correlation with increased player injury risk.