With spring sports beginning for over 40 million young athletes, the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) has ten tips for parents, coaches, and administrators to help prevent injuries and ensure a safe and successful season.
"It's so important to have a team approach [18] when it comes to youth sports safety," says Robinson. "That includes the parents, athletes, coaches, athletic trainers and other medical staff working together to ensure safe and successful seasons in the school year ahead."
"It is so important that young athletes are physically and mentally prepared for the start of the sports season, said Brian Robinson, ATC, chair of NATA's secondary school committee. "Educating parents and school personnel about ways to help children avoid common sports-related injuries is a top priority. And, nothing is more frustrating to the athlete, his or her team and family, than for an avoidable injury to occur and sideline him or her from play."
According to a National Council of Youth Sports 2008 survey, over 40 million young athletes ages 6-18 participate in organized youth sport activities.
With high school participation at an all-time high - nearly 7 million high school students play sports - injuries are also on the rise, with an estimated 715,000 high school sports-related injuries occuring each year. 8,000 children are treated in emergency roomseach day for sports-related injuries.1
Source: National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA)
1. Wier, L. (Thomson Reuters), Miller, A. (Student), and Steiner, C. (AHRQ). Sports Injuries in Children Requiring Hospital Emergency Care, 2006. HCUP Statistical Brief #75. June 2009.
Most recently updated April 18, 2012
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