Dangerous Children's Sports

Extracurricular activities look great on a college application, and many parents and their children are eager to start participation in sports at an early age. While exercise is important to keeping children healthy, some sports may do more harm than good.

Football is increasingly becoming America's favorite game, surpassing baseball in popularity. Just as professional football players are subject to injury, so are children. Football is a contact sport, and no matter what age or size your child is, the possibility of minor, or even major injuries are constantly present. Bruises, sprained ankles, broken arms and collarbones, and neck injuries can all be consequences of an accident or overly aggressive play on the football field.

It is difficult for some people to consider cheerleading a dangerous sport, but as competition gets more rigid and routines become more complex, the potential for serious injury climbs. Many states have instituted guidelines for what can and cannot be attempted, but this does not prevent cheerleaders from trying the banned moves and formations in practice. Sprained ankles, sprained or broken wrists, and bruises are quite common, but the more complex a routine gets, or the higher the pyramid is stacked, the risk for injury resulting from a fall increases.

Wrestling is another contact sport offered in schools that often results in injury to the participants. The goal of a wrestling match is to "pin" your opponent to the mat, using a series of holds that can cause injury not only to the child being pinned, but also to the winner of the match. Bruises and pulled muscles are common injuries resulting from wrestling, but in other more unusual circumstances bones can be broken.

Gymnastics are a potentially dangerous after-school sport offered to children. While this activity is not a contact sport, it is on the list because of the many injuries that can result. Pulled muscles and falls occur often in gymnastics, as do sprains, strains, bruises, and broken wrists, feet, and ankles. Collisions can also occur in overcrowded gymnasiums.

All sporting activities have the potential to result in injury. Be sure that the athletics coach is trained for that particular sport. Talk to your child about ways to avoid injury such as warming up before exerting themselves and remembering to stay hydrated. Investigate sports that have a lower occurrence of injury like basketball, softball, or tennis. Attend practices and games to make sure that the coach is guiding your child in a safe and responsible manner. Most importantly, never encourage your child to "play through the pain" when they experience an injury. This could result in permanent injury.

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