This study focused on the balance of isometric strength between two key hip extending muscle groups: the hamstrings and the gluteal muscles. The strength ratio was examined in male field hockey players from the national U18 team and the U19 team competing at the national level. Additionally the female U18 Belgian national team was tested. Understanding muscle balance is important because imbalances can increase the risk of injury—especially in sports that involve explosive movements sucha as sprinting, and quick changes of direction. Previous research has shown that weak gluteal muscles can cause the hamstrings to compensate, which may raise the risk of strains and injuries. The researchers also explored whether this muscle balance differs between males and females, and whether a history of previous injuries plays a role. On average, both boys and girls had a similar muscle balance: their hamstrings were about 80% as strong as the gluteal muscle group. The gluteal muscles were relatively also somehow stronger when the knee was straight compared to when it was bent. Interestingly, boys who had been injured before (but were game fit) had stronger hamstrings compared to their gluts—especially on the left side. Their gluteal muscles were also stronger on that same side. Boys without any injury history had a more even balance between both muscle groups and equal strength on both legs. Differences between the left and right legs were also looked at. In the boys who had been injured, the right gluteals was stronger, while the left hamstring was stronger. In the end, most players—about 84% of the boys and 92% of the girls—used their gluts more than their hamstrings during the strength tests. There weren’t any big differences between boys and girls in how their muscles worked together. These insights may be valuable for athletes, coaches, physiotherapists, and sports medicine professionals, as early identification of muscle imbalances could support targeted prevention strategies and more personalized training programs. Such interventions could reduce the incidence of non-contact injuries and support safe return-to-play protocols. Finally, the study offers a foundation for further research into the hamstrings-to-gluteal muscles strength balance, a relatively underexplored area in sports science. For researchers in injury prevention and sports performance, these results highlight the need for broader studies across different populations, such as adult athletes. Continued exploration of this muscle ratio could lead to more effective strategies for injury prevention and performance enhancement.