Keep Youth in the Game

Best Practices in Youth Sports Injury Reduction and Prevention

Youth sports participation is a critically important part of our communities. It promotes health and leadership benefits, helps prevent chronic disease and provides protective factors for reducing risky behavior. Youth sports injuries are the enemy of participation.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has described youth sports injuries as an epidemic with some 3.5 million of these injuries occurring annually in the United States. Each year, one in three participants seeks medical attention for a sports-related injury, resulting in lost sports and school time.

The good news: According to the CDC, more than 50 percent of these injuries are preventable.

The Board of Directors of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM), which includes STOP Sports Injuries co-campaign chair and renowned orthopaedic surgeon James R. Andrews, MD, identified overuse injuries in young athletes as a critical issue. In response, STOP Sports Injuries educational materials were developed by AOSSM, with support from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, SAFE Kids USA, the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America and the Sports Physical Therapy Section.

AOSSM and the National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS) are pleased to collaborate to share these materials. We welcome your partnership to keep our young athletes in the game!