My Child Has...

Obviously, some sports are more dangerous than others. For example, contact sports such as football can be expected to result in a higher number of injuries than a non-contact sport such as swimming. However, all types of sports have a potential for injury, whether from the trauma of contact with other players or from overuse or misuse of a body part.

• Approximately 3 million children and adolescents ages 14 and under get hurt annually playing sports or participating in recreational activities.
• Although death from a sports injury is rare, the leading cause of death from a sports-related injury is a brain injury.
• Sports and recreational activities contribute to approximately 21 percent of all traumatic brain injuries among American children and adolescents.
• The majority of head injuries sustained in sports or recreational activities occur during bicycling, skateboarding, or skating incidents.
• More than 775,000 children and adolescents ages 14 and under are treated in hospital emergency rooms for sports-related injuries each year. Most of the injuries occurred as a result of falls, being struck by an object, collisions, and overexertion during unorganized or informal sports activities.

• Playground, sports, and bicycle-related injuries occur most often among young children, between the ages of five and 14 years old. Bicycle- and sports-related injuries also affect older children and adolescents, in addition to overexertion.
• The highest rates of injury occur in sports that involve contact and collisions.
• More severe injuries occur during individual sports and recreational activities.
• Most organized sports-related injuries (60 percent) occur during practice.

• Almost 6 million high school children participate in team sports.
• Children and adolescents between 5 and 14 years of age account for almost half (40 percent) of sports-related injuries for all age groups.
• Approximately 20 million children and adolescents take part in recreational or competitive sports outside of school.
• Approximately 20 percent of children and adolescents participating in sports activities are injured each year, and one in four injuries is considered serious.
• Children and adolescents who are less developed than a more mature child or adolescent of the same age and weight are at increased risk for injury.
• Sports-related injury severity increases with age.
• Before puberty, girls and boys suffer the same risk of sports injuries.
• During puberty, boys suffer more injuries more severely than girls.
• Girls are at higher risk for rollerskating and gymnastics injuries.
• Children and adolescents who are just beginning a sport or activity are at greater risk for injury.

• Basketball - In 1998, nearly 200,000 children and adolescents ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for basketball-related injuries. The majority of the injured persons (70 percent) were boys.

• Baseball and softball - Nearly 117,000 children and adolescents ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for baseball-related injuries, and nearly 26,000 children and adolescents ages five to 14 were treated for softball-related injuries. Baseball also has the highest fatality rate among sports for children and adolescents ages five to 14, with three to four persons dying from baseball injuries each year.

• Bicycling - In 1998, more than 320,000 children and adolescents ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for bicycle-related injuries. In addition, 225 children and adolescents ages 14 and under died in bicycle-related crashes in 1997.

• Football - In 1998, more than 159,000 children and adolescents ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for football-related injuries.

• Gymnastics - In 1998, nearly 25,500 children and adolescents ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for gymnastics-related injuries. Among girls' sports, gymnastics has one of the highest injury rates, increasing with the level of competition.

• Ice Hockey - According to a study published in the journal Pediatrics, over 18,000 young people under the age of 18 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for ice hockey-related injuries in 2001-2002.

• Ice Skating - Nearly 10,600 children ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for ice skating-related injuries.

• In-line skating/roller skating - More than 38,000 children ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for roller-skating-related injuries.

• Skateboarding - In 1998, more than 27,500 children and adolescents ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for skateboarding-related injuries.

• Sledding - In 1998, nearly 8,500 children and adolescents ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for sledding-related injuries.

• Snow skiing/snowboarding - More than 29,000 children and adolescents ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for snow skiing-related injuries. Another 9,000 children and adolescents ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for snowboarding-related injuries.

• Soccer - In 1998, more than 77,500 children and adolescents ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for soccer-related injuries.

• Trampolines - Nearly 80,000 children ages five and under were treated in hospital emergency rooms for trampoline-related injuries.