PREVENTING SPORTS INJURIES

In addition to head injuries, there are other injuries that occur in sports and are often preventable.  Remind your child that it’s important not to begin strenuous exercise without a good warm-up.  Even though children do not need as long as adults to get into shape, it does take time.  They should stretch with supervision before each work out. Hopefully this will minimize the risks of strains and sprains.

As mentioned in the section on Head Injury, helmets can prevent many head injuries in sports. Some sports and leagues do require helmets (baseball, football, hockey, boys lacrosse); others do not (and perhaps should, i.e. girls lacrosse). 

Other protective gear includes polycarbonate sports goggles, chest and neck protectors for catchers in baseball and softball, shin guards for soccer, mouth guards, athletic supporters/groin cups for males and proper padding and protectors for football.

Another important injury to know about, although not common is that young baseball and softball players who receive direct ball impact to the chest wall over the area of the heart may develop cardiac arrest (Commotio cordis). The blunt chest impact causes the heart to go into an abnormal rhythm, called ventricular fibrillation and is the second highest cause of death in athletes younger than 14 years. It is considered to be only a pediatric problem because of its unique occurrence in children, usually younger than 16 years.



Chest protectors for batters were introduced in the 1990s to protect the heart from ball impact, which can cause commotio cordis. However, this protective barrier has not been shown to be reliable. More study is required to develop and target equipment that will better prevent commotio cordis.

The ball is the cause of most baseball injuries, through being hit by a pitched ball, being struck while attempting to field a batted ball, trying to catch a thrown ball, or being hit by a thrown or batted ball while running the bases. Accordingly, modifications in the hardness and compressibility of baseballs (and softballs) were developed by equipment manufacturers several decades ago for use by children of different ages with the intent of reducing the force of impact by the ball while maintaining adequate performance characteristics; they were known as reduction-in-force balls. The National Operating Committee on Standard for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) has developed standards for these softer baseballs and an expert review panel and other researchers have indicated that softer balls meeting the NOCSAE standard are less likely to cause injury, specifically serious head injury or commotio cordis by impact.

Players should also be taught how to avoid certain pitches and pitchers should be taught how to field balls hit directly toward them.


If a player is hit by a ball and develops this condition, their life can be saved by using an AED (defibrillator) immediately. If there is not one available at the field, call 9-1-1 immediately to get an AED to save their life.

Your child should also know and follow the rules of the sport(s) they are playing, use athletic equipment properly, avoid playing when very tired or in pain, drink adequate water/fluids to prevent dehydration and use sunscreen for outdoor sports. Your child should also have a yearly/preseason physical.

Partially adapted from the AAP's Policy Statement on Baseball and Softball Injuries.





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