Sports injury statistics

In the United States, about 30 million children and teens participate in some form of organized sports, and about 3.5 million injuries occur each year.

• The most common injuries are sprains and strains.
• Brain injury is the leading cause of sports-related death in children.
• The majority of head injuries occur during bicycling, skateboarding, or skating incidents.
• Many injuries occur as a result of falls, being struck by an object, collisions and overexertion during unorganized or informal sports activities.
• About 60 percent of organized sports-related injuries occur during practice.

About 20 percent of children and adolescents participating in sports activities are injured each year, and one in four injuries is considered serious.