Safety by sport

Baseball safety

Recent data shows 250,000 youth are injured each year playing baseball. This reference guide provides information on the most common baseball injuries requiring treatment.

Fifteen percent of basketball players ages 5 to 15 suffer injuries, mostly involving ankle and knee sprains. Sprains occur when one or more ligaments in a joint are stretched beyond their limits. This guide provides information on common basketball injuries requiring treatment.

Cheerleading safety

Cheerleading is one of the fastest growing sports in the United States. With the rise in youth cheerleading participation, the number of athletes at risk for injury is also increasing. This reference guide provides information on the most common cheerleading injuries that require treatment.

Dancing

Injuries suffered by dancers are similar to injuries from other non-contact sports that focus on using the legs.

Figure skating

Young skaters can injure themselves when they increase the intensity and volume of skating and when going through their growth spurt.

Flag football safety

Flag football is not a contact sport, so the risk of injury is lower than in traditional football. However, knee and ankle injuries are still common. This reference guide provides information on how to care for some of the injuries that you may see in flag football.

Football safety

New rules and better equipment have improved football safety, but about one in three youth football players suffers injuries annually. This reference guide provides information on the most common football injuries requiring treatment.

Golf safety

There are 5.1 million junior golfers from age 5 to 17 in the United States. Golf is a non-contact sport, so athletes are at greater risk of overuse or chronic injuries than acute injuries like a broken bone. This reference guide provides information on the most common golf injuries requiring treatment.

Gymnastics

Gymnastics injuries send more than 26,000 young athletes to the emergency room each year. As the complexity of routines increases, so does the athlete's risk of injury.

Ice hockey safety

The appeal of ice hockey's fast-paced and hard-hitting style has led to its increasing popularity as a youth sport. The characteristics that make ice hockey appealing also put players at risk for injuries sustained while hitting the boards, the ice and other players. Injuries are common, even in leagues where checking is not allowed.

Lacrosse safety

Lacrosse is the oldest team sport in North America and is also among the fastest growing sports today. This reference guide provides information on the most common lacrosse injuries requiring treatment.

Running safety

Sixty-five percent of all youth runners suffer injuries each year. Most of these injuries are caused by over-training or overuse. This reference guide provides information on the most common running injuries that require treatment.

Soccer safety

Soccer is one of the fastest growing sports in the United States. With the rise in participation, the number of athletes at risk for injuries is also increasing. This reference guide provides information on the most common soccer injuries requiring treatment.

Softball safety

Softball is a non-contact sport so the risk of injury is much lower than other sports. However, shoulder, knee and ankle injuries are common. This reference guide provides information on softball injuries that may require treatment.

Swimming safety

Like many other sports, swimming is becoming a year- round activity. The increase in training sessions, weight lifting and cross training is leading to an increase in injuries among swimmers. This reference guide provides information on the most common swimming injuries requiring treatment.