Sports & Recreation

Every day, millions of children participate in sports, and every year more than 775,000 children ages 14 and under are treated in hospital emergency rooms for sports-related injuries, according to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign. The majority of these injuries occur during unorganized sports activities. In fact, almost one-third of all injuries that occur in children are sports-related injuries.

Whether your children participate in organized sports or just play with friends in the neighborhood park, it’s important for them to practice good safety habits. Parents can help prevent serious sports- and recreation-related injuries by supervising their children at play, learning proper coaching techniques and making sure kids always wear proper safety equipment. The safety tips in this section can help you keep your kids safe both on the playing field and off.