Sports offer kid fitness benefits that stretch beyond the ball field to teach life lessons. No wonder the popularity of sports has skyrocketed. But along with the positive is the potential for injuries.

“One in three children who participates in organized sports at K12 grades has been injured,” says Angela Mickalide, Ph.D., program director for the National SAFE KIDS Campaign.

Emergency rooms treat kids for cuts, concussions, dislocated joints and broken bones. Surprisingly though, an estimated half of all sports-related injuries are preventable, says Mickalide.

Ensure your child’s safety and health in school by following these guidelines on what gear your child should be sporting and what else you can do to prevent injury.

In-line Skating

  • Gear: Helmet, elbow and knee pads, wrist guards
  • Safety stop: Kids should skate only in designated areas and only on smooth terrain. Since 1992, at least 37 children aged 14 and under have died from in-line skating injuries and deaths were from collisions with motor vehicles.

Bicycling

  • Gear: A snug-fitting helmet, the right size bike, a light and retro-reflective tape if they must bike at night. To size a bike, have your child sit on the seat with her hands on the handlebars. The balls of her feet must touch the ground.
  • Safety stop: Kids should ride in bike lanes and paths free from potholes and debris. Insist children under 10 stick to sidewalks and paths, since skills for judging speed and distance in the street are not yet developed.

Baseball/Softball

  • Gear: Batting helmet with face mask, rubber cleats, full protective gear for catchers, an athletic cup for boys.
  • Equipment check: Inspect the diamond and outfield for debris. Encourage your league to use breakaway bases. These bases, which detach when a player slides into them, can prevent many ankle and knee injuries.

Basketball

  • Gear: Shoes with ankle support, shatterproof eye protection for children who wear eyeglasses (this is true for any sport, not just basketball), elbow pads, mouth guard
  • Equipment check: Anchor the goalpost securely to the ground and made sure the netting won’t disengage from the hoop. Check that the rim is out of reach--dental injuries can occur when a player’s teeth snag on the net while hanging from the rim.


 

Jennifer Nelson is a freelance writer in Neptune Beach, Florida.
This article first appeared in Womans Day, 4/24/01.