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Mar. 23 -- THURSDAY, July 26 (HealthDay News) -- With the school football season just around the corner, a new study is raising awareness of the risks associated with playing the game.

Researchers found that college football players get injured more often than their high school counterparts, but high school athletes are more likely to end up severely injured.

The new findings also point to "where the focus should be in terms of prevention," said Dr. Cynthia LaBella, medical director of the Institute for Sports Medicine at Children's Memorial Hospital, in Chicago. She was not involved in the study, which is published in the August issue of the American Journal of Sports Medicine.

A second report on youth sports injuries was also released Thursday, this time by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That study, published in this week's issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, found that boys aged 10 to 14 were most likely to end up in the nation's emergency departments with a traumatic brain injury, and that activities such as bicycling, horseback riding, football, basketball and use of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) were most often to blame.

The football study was led by R. Dawn Comstock, a primary investigator at the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Her team collected injury reports for the 2005-2006 football season from 100 high schools and 55 colleges across the country via two Internet-based systems -- the High School Reporting Information Online (RIO) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Injury Surveillance System, respectively.

Based on almost 1,900 injury reports submitted to the RIO, the researchers estimate there were 517,726 football-related injuries during the 2005-2006 season at the high school level across the United States. The NCAA system logged more than 3,500 injuries in its database during the same period.

Not unexpectedly, college players were about twice as likely to injure themselves as high school students, Comstock said, suffering 8.6 injuries per 1,000 "athlete-exposures" (a practice or competition), compared with high school athletes' 4.36 injuries/1,000.

But the researcher said she was surprised to find that the distribution of injuries differed, with fractures, concussions, and season-ending injuries more common among high school athletes.

For instance, injuries to the lower leg, ankle and foot were common at both the high school and college levels. But while the knee is the second most-injured site among high school players, hip and thigh injuries were more common in college athletes.

The study comes on the heels of findings released in July that found a much higher rate of catastrophic head injury among high school football players compared to college players.

LaBella noted that, if anything, this study is underestimating injuries at the high school level, because only schools with an athletic trainer on staff were included. It's possible that such schools have better resources and equipment than less well-funded schools, she said.

According to Comstock, the impetus behind this study was the lack of any injury reporting system at the high school level to match the NCAA's, which has been in place for more than 20 years.

"We set out to replicate the NCAA system at the high school level," Comstock explained. "That's important, because right now, rules, protective equipment, and education at the high school level are largely based on information collected on college athletes, and high school athletes are not merely miniature versions of their collegiate counterparts."

High school athletes are less physically mature and have less muscle mass than collegiate athletes, for instance. They also have incomplete growth plates, meaning their bones are still developing. Inexperienced athletic techniques can also exacerbate their risk of injury, Comstock said.

But better coaching might help. For instance, Comstock noted that most injuries occurred during tackles, and that the most injured positions were running backs and linebackers. "So, at the high school level, especially with younger players, coaches can make sure the athletes are very well-coached in the technique of tackling and are physically able to perform a tackle before they are allowed to play."

The CDC study showed that football is just one of many recreational activities in which young people can suffer serious harm. Poring over data from 2001-2005 from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System--All Injury Program, the researchers looked at the causes of almost 208,000 nonfatal sports and recreation-linked brain injuries.

Kids aged 10 to 14 were at highest risk for these injuries, and males accounted for more than 70 percent of head trauma cases, the CDC report found. Activities linked to high rates of emergency department admissions for brain trauma included ATV use, use of mopeds/dirtbikes/minibikes, bicycling, golf and scooter use.

So, sports and recreation can cause injury, the experts say, especially when safety equipment is lacking or safety rules are ignored. And yet Comstock also emphasized that parents should not use her team's study as an excuse to take their children out of football.

"We have an epidemic of obesity in this country, and sports is one of the best ways for kids to incorporate exercise in their lives," she said. "Parents can help keep kids safe by making sure they wear all the appropriate protective equipment, and that their protective equipment fits properly and is in good repair."

LaBella added that parents can also help their children by ensuring that they maintain good physical conditioning year-round, are properly coached in techniques such as tackling and falling, and -- perhaps most important -- that they tell someone, whether a parent, coach, or athletic trainer, if they are injured, especially in the head.

In the case of a concussion, the consequences of returning to the field before the injury has healed can range from post-concussive disorder (which includes chronic headaches, memory problems, sleep disturbances and depression) to, rarely, death, in the event of a secondary injury.

"Encourage your child to let you know if they have pain or if they notice something different after a hit or a game," LaBella said. "It is not your job to know if something is important -- let the medical professionals make that decision."

More information

There's more on preventing kids' sports injuries at the Nemours Foundation.

SOURCES: R. Dawn Comstock, Ph.D., assistant professor, pediatrics, Ohio State University College of Medicine, and primary investigator, Center for Injury Research and Policy, and Columbus Children's Research Institute, Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio; Cynthia LaBella, M.D., medical director, Institute for Sports Medicine, Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago; August 2007, American Journal of Sports Medicine; July 27, 2007, CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

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High School, College Football Comes With Risk

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Mar. 23 -- THURSDAY, July 26 (HealthDay News) -- With the school football season just around the corner, a new study is raising awareness of the risks associated with playing the game. Researchers found that college football players get injured more often than their high school counterparts, but high school athletes are more likely to end up severely injured.

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Intense training schedules. Pressure to win and be the best. Painful injuries. Given all these factors, it's not surprising that some athletes simply burn out on their sport. But what is shocking to many in the field are the young ages at which this is increasingly happening -- sometimes as early as 9 or 10.

The scenario often goes something like this: Eager to nurture the next A-Rod or Michelle Kwan, parents enroll their 5- or 6-year-olds in a competitive sports league or program. Over the next few years, training intensifies and expands to the off-season, making practice essentially year-round. Youngsters may join more than one league or a traveling team. They may have to sacrifice other interests and give up most of the down time that allows them to just be kids.

Soon the stakes get higher because many parents and coaches play to win. Winning means recognition and that could lead to lucrative opportunities -- high school championships then college scholarships and perhaps a shot at the pros.

"Kids sports have become much more competitive," says Dr. Jordan Metzl, medical director of the Sports Medicine Institute for Young Athletes at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.

"And in general, high-level competition for young kids is not a great thing," says Metzl, co-author of "The Young Athlete: A Sports Doctor's Complete Guide for Parents."

With more kids than ever in organized sports, an estimated 30 million of them up through high school, Metzl and other experts in sports medicine and youth athletics say they are increasingly concerned about the pressures put on some children to excel. Not only are these youngsters at risk for emotional burnout, they may also develop injuries that plague them for a lifetime. Some will turn to steroids or other performance-enhancing substances to try to gain an edge. And some may give up on sports -- and exercise -- altogether.

'It's not fun anymore'
Kids with a strong internal drive may thrive on the competition. But the pressure can be too much for others, particularly grade-schoolers who aren't as equipped to deal with the stress as older athletes.

And the goals of sports for young kids can differ dramatically from those of their parents and coaches, says youth fitness researcher Avery Faigenbaum, an associate professor of exercise science at the University of Massachusetts in Boston.

"Most children would rather play on a losing team than sit on the bench of a winning team," he says.

When Faigenbaum asks kids who've quit why they're no longer interested in sports, their typical response: "It's not fun anymore." They wanted to have a good time, make friends and learn something new, he says. But make the game all about hard-core training and the final score, and many kids will sideline themselves.

"They're getting turned off of sports at a young age -- and that's a sad tale," says Faigenbaum.

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There's ample evidence that sports participation can have important benefits for kids, including improved physical health and emotional well-being. Hopefully, they'll also learn life lessons in teamwork, discipline, leadership and time management. But kids can't profit from these benefits if they're quitting sports early on.

A new ball game
While parents may have spent much of their early childhoods riding bikes around the neighborhood, playing pick-up games of baseball or basketball with the local kids and maybe joining Little League, today's youngsters often fall into two disparate groups: those who sit inside playing video games and those who participate in organized competitive sports like soccer, ice hockey and basketball.

A big difference today is that kids involved in sports play harder and younger than ever, says Steve Marshall, an assistant professor of epidemiology and orthopedics at the Injury Prevention Research Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. And with dreams of college scholarships and multi-million dollar professional contracts, the competition can get out of hand, he says.

"Youth sports have become about more than kids having fun," says Marshall. "Frankly it's beginning to get out of control. It's almost a national obsession."

Certainly coaches who treat young athletes like military recruits can be a big problem. So can athletes who take the game too seriously and play when they're injured or, as they enter the teen years, turn to performance-enhancing substances that they hear of their idols in the big leagues using.

Parents the prime culprits
But experts in the field mostly point to parents as the prime culprits in promoting a competition-crazed environment in youth sports.

"Parents tend to think everyone's going to the Olympics," says Patrick Mediate, a physical education teacher and coordinator of the strength and conditioning program at Greenwich High School in Greenwich, Conn.

Of course, many parents are a positive force, supporting their children and making sports participation possible by taking the time to drive kids to and from practice and games. But parents who live vicariously through their children can be problematic, experts say. It's one thing for kids to dream of Olympic gold medals or Super Bowl rings and to work toward those goals. But it's another matter if parents are pushing their kids to do something they don't want or pressuring them to succeed in a way that's hurtful.

Marilyn Enmark, a youth soccer coach in Detroit, says she's seen her share of overbearing parents.

Recently, one of her players, a 7-year-old boy, hit the boards during an indoor game and was holding his head. His father, a former soccer player himself, went over to the boy but rather than asking him how he was feeling, scolded him for playing poorly. A week later, his mother called him over after a play and she, too, sharply criticized him. "He was sobbing," Enmark says.

Parents -- and coaches -- who push too hard too young, particularly when they emphasize winning above all else, can easily wipe out a child's motivation to play, says Dr. Henry Goitz, chief of sports medicine at the Medical College of Ohio in Toledo.

"They may be preventing the next Michael Jordan from coming to be," says Goitz, a team physician for the Toledo high schools and a former team doctor for the Detroit Lions. "They can take the heart out of a kid."

But not all pushing is bad, says Michael Bergeron, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. He acknowledges, however, that there's no good answer on where to draw the line.

"You need to know your child," he says. If kids truly hate a sport, then let them quit. But maybe they just need some encouragement. Some 19- or 20-year-olds may wish their parents had pushed them more to stick with sports when they were younger rather than giving up, he adds.

Injury toll
Aside from the psychological pressures that young athletes may experience from intense training and competition, physical complaints are a growing concern, sports medicine specialists say.

One of the most comprehensive surveys to date, by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found that from 1997 to 1999 sports and recreation-related injuries were more common nationwide than injuries from traffic accidents. Americans ages 5 to 24 were most likely to be treated for sports-related injuries by health professionals. Kids 5 to 14 had the highest injury rates of all -- 59.3 episodes per 1,000 people. That's slightly higher than the rate for people 15 to 24 (56.4 per 1,000) but substantially greater than the rates for those 25 to 44 (21 per 1,000) and 45 and up (6.2 per 1,000).

A fifth of kids lost one or more school days a year because of their complaints. Strains and sprains accounted for the most injuries overall, followed by fractures. Among kids 5 to 14, bicycling was associated with the most injuries, followed by basketball, football, playground equipment and baseball or softball. In those 15 to 24, basketball and football were linked to the most injuries.

Greater sports participation, particularly among girls in recent decades, is one reason injuries appear to be rising, experts say. A study published last September in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that over the last 30 years in the area around Rochester, Minn., forearm fractures, many of them resulting from sports and recreation activities, increased 56 percent in girls and 32 percent in boys, mostly among kids in the preteen and early teen years. Also on the rise are knee injuries known as anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, tears that are more likely to affect girls, often those who play basketball or soccer.

Another factor that contributes to sports injuries is the couch-potato culture where kids lounge around all summer watching TV, for instance, and then jump into a sport in the fall when they're woefully out of shape. "The musculoskeletal systems of boys and girls may not be prepared for sports," says Faigenbaum. "They're an absolute set-up for injury."

On the flip side, too much training can lead to overuse injuries such as "Little League elbow," which results from repetitive throws, and stress fractures.

Metzl diagnosed a pelvic stress fracture in one 9-year-old girl who had been playing soccer two to three hours a day, five to six days a week. But in kids like her, diet could also be a contributing factor. Too much soda and not enough milk can weaken bones. So he now orders bone density tests on young athletes with curious stress fractures and tracks the kids over time.

Early specialization questioned
A big issue, many experts in the field say, is the push for kids to specialize in a single sport very early in life -- well before puberty.

"This has backfired in our faces," Faigenbaum says. "It truly doesn't work."

Kids may hone certain skills in a particular sport with early, intense specialization, but they can also burn out emotionally and physically. And they may not necessarily be achieving the goal they or their parents hoped for -- becoming the best athlete they can be in that sport, he notes.

"When you play different sports, you use a variety of motor skills -- jumping, running, twisting -- that can transfer to a lot of sports," Faigenbaum says. But if young kids focus on just one sport, they may not reap these benefits.

"There's absolutely no evidence that says that if a [child] athlete plays just one sport that will guarantee success as a teen or adult," he says, adding there's actually more evidence that if they diversify they'll play better. Ask most pro athletes what they were doing at age 10, he says, and most will say they were playing two to three sports, not just one.

Focusing on a single activity also puts all of a young athlete's eggs in one basket, says Metzl. If kids don't try other sports, how do they know whether or not they might like those sports more -- or be better at them?

And even top-notch athletes can tire of their sport because of what it takes to win. At Greenwich High School, the boys' swim team program has been hugely successful, losing only one meet in the last 25 years. But just a handful of the athletes have gone on to swim in college, says Mediate.

"They have double practice sessions -- morning and night -- almost every day for 10 years," he says. "So it does add up. It's burnout."

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Intense training schedules. Pressure to win and be the best. Painful injuries. Given all these factors, it's not surprising that some athletes simply burn out on their sport. But what is shocking to many in the field are the young ages at which this is increasingly happening -- sometimes as early as 9 or 10.

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The costs are high, and the benefits to students are low, argues Buzz Bissinger. And academics suffer.

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Against a backdrop of increasing childhood obesity, the physical benefits of sports participation are clear. Kids today need to move more, and being on a team or involved in a sport is a great way to stay healthy. But there's also been more discussion of the physical risks that children face in sports, and with good reason. As a nation, we are coming to terms with the epidemic of knee (soccer and track), shoulder (tennis and baseball), and head (football) injuries related to specific sports. What's talked about less often are the psychological risks and benefits related to youth sports.

While teaching "Sociology of Sport" at Northwestern University (a Big 10, Division 1 school), I did the research and heard from hundreds of students. Here are six risks and six benefits that parents of athletes of all ages should consider as they help their kids navigate the world of sport.
6 Psychological Risks of Youth Sports

1. Self-esteem is tied to sport performance. Who your child is as a person shouldn't be tied closely to the ability to hit home runs or score touchdowns. If it is, that's a guaranteed set-up for feelings of failure and low self-esteem. Most young athletes feel great when they win, but it's how they handle loss that defines their long-term character. Remind your sporty kid that she's always a winner in your book, even if she loses.

2. Coaches who demoralize and bully. There are more wonderful coaches than those who do damage, but it would be naïve to expect all coaches to have your child's psychological interests at heart. Too often, a win-at-all-costs mentality devastates young athletes. Be on the lookout for behaviors that humiliate your child. Does the coach rant and rave at games? Call out and embarrass players? The best coaches inspire through positive reinforcement and role modeling, not harassment and bullying.

3. Delusions that sport will provide college scholarships. Too many parents believe that their child is destined to receive a Division 1 college scholarship. This is akin to playing the lottery: Don't bank on it. Putting all your eggs in the sports basket is misguided and dangerous for your child's emotional well-being. In addition to the statistical improbability, there is a strong chance that an athlete will face a sport-ending injury or simply burn out. Make sure that your athlete has other interests and doesn't believe that sports are the only route to success.

4. Strained relationships with over-invested parents. Have you ever said "we won" after your child's game or match? Don't do it. Too many parents become over-invested in their children's athletic pursuits, which can lead to unconscious behaviors that will hurt young athletes. I've seen parents scream and berate their children for missing a goal or not winning a race. Love and affection should never be tied to athletic performance. In fact, children need you most when they fail to perform well.

5. Unhealthy performance pressure. Sports psychologists are in high demand because parents, coaches, teams and schools put undue pressure on young athletes to perform well every time they step on the field, court, or track. Remember, they're children, not professional athletes. As a mom to five competitive tennis players, I understand the inclination to demand more, but kids are kids. Some days they will miss every serve just because, and other days they will look like they're destined for greatness. Work with them to maintain perspective and understand that it's only a game.

6. Inappropriate feelings of superiority. Our society's obsession with sports puts a premium on athletes and athleticism, which can imbue young athletes with an inflated sense of self. Schools and towns may even afford young athletes privileges and leeway that other students don't receive. There are too many instances of successful athletes who thought they were above the law or the norms of a school. Parents need to be vigilant for signs that their young athletes lacks humility and empathy. It's up to us to make sure that sports don't bring out the worst in our children.

6 Psychological Benefits of Youth Sports

1. The ability to take criticism and work collaboratively. To help young athletes improve, coaches must point out mistakes and faulty technique. Learning to handle this feedback establishes a foundation for adult skill-building and collaboration. In addition, with their team and coaches, athletes learn the give-and-take of working together and managing conflict. Research suggests that athletic girls become women who are better equipped than their non-athletic counterparts to handle criticism and stress. Effective coaching and competition can help build internal resources that will serve kids well into adulthood.

2. Self-esteem and efficacy. Skill-building in sport enhances self-esteem, which carries over into other areas of life. Going from not being able to make a basket to rarely missing a foul shot can boost a young person's ego. Gaining efficacy in one arena, especially when helped by a coach or a parent, demonstrates that listening and practicing yield positive results. This self-awareness helps young athletes make an invaluable connection between their goals and effort.

3. Acquisition of a work ethic. Sports require effort and commitment, both traits that serve us well in adulthood. I've seen how my children apply the aptitude for hard work and effort that they acquired in athletics to almost everything they do in their lives, from hobbies to academic assignments. Excelling in sport is all about the work we expend, which sets up an excellent foundation for long-term success.

4. Positive body image. Our contemporary addiction to social media and adulation of seemingly "perfect"-looking people can wreak havoc on children's body image. While not always a perfect antidote, sports can make young athletes feel proud of their bodies and what those bodies can do. Serena Williams shared that she was ashamed of her athletic frame until she won a Grand Slam and understood that her success was tied to her very strong body. Female athletes in particular have been shown to benefit from positive feelings about their bodies, regardless of whether they conform to society's very rigid standards of female beauty.

5. Resilience. Too many tweens and teens are unable to handle the rigors of school. They are easily overwhelmed and crumble when they do poorly in a class. In fact, parents often protect their children from defeat by fiercely advocating for them, doing their homework, and even asking teachers to change poor grades. Overprotection undermines the development of resilience. Youth sports provide a nice balance, since parents can't protect athletes from defeat and hardship. It's good for your kids to learn how to both lose and win.

6. Self-regulation, organization, and time management. Combining sports and school requires an ability to self-regulate. Getting to practice on time with the proper equipment helps student-athletes learn to organize themselves and say no to other activities, such as video games, social media, and excessive socializing. Learning when to say no is a great skill to carry over to adulthood. Many Northwestern athletes shared with me that they actually got better grades during their regular season because they were forced to take a more organized approach to their schoolwork.

As parents, we should all be aware of the psychological risks that come with sport participation while reinforcing the positives. Sports are supposed to be fun. When it stops being fun and has the potential to hurt your child, it's time to shift gears and reevaluate. However, if your young athlete is having fun, the rewards can last a lifetime.

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The Pros and Cons of Youth Sports Aren't Only Physical

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Against a backdrop of increasing childhood obesity, the physical benefits of sports participation are clear. Kids today need to move more, and being on a team or involved in a sport is a great way to stay healthy. But there's also been more discussion of the physical risks that children face in sports, and with good reason.

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A well-structured and organized youth sports program can provide many benefits and positive experiences for young athletes. When done correctly and with the athlete's well-being in mind, organized sports can play an important role in a young person's life.

Benefits of Youth Sports

Benefits and advantages of youth sports participation include:

Enjoyment

Any form of regular exercise must be enjoyable, or there is a good chance it will not remain regular for very long. That is one of the primary reasons that so many adults quickly break their New Year's resolutions to become more physically active. If young athletes enjoy the sport they are participating in, chances are that they will continue to stay active and come back year after year.

Structure

Participating in an organized youth sport adds structure and direction to physical activity, which is another key element for consistency. If the athletes are informed when, where, and how often practice will be conducted, the exercise is already planned for them. All they have to do is show up and play.

Opportunity to Socialize

Both children and adults generally have more fun when exercising with a group of friends or teammates. Not only will kids enjoy getting together with their friends for practice and games, but they also will learn how to cooperate and compete fairly.

Learning Life Skills

Becoming skilled in a particular activity can promote participation and increase enjoyment. Young athletes should be encouraged to learn sport-specific skills and receive positive feedback for their efforts. Sports such as swimming, tennis, soccer, and golf can provide regular physical activity for a lifetime.

Improved Health

Young people are built to move, so try to choose a sport or activity that achieves that objective. The coach plays an important role in organizing a practice where everyone is involved and moving. Sports such as soccer, basketball, hockey, and roller skating can provide children with an excellent aerobic workout by strengthening muscles, and burning lots of calories in the process.
Discover more about the many benefits of sports for kids. Click To Tweet
Disadvantages to Youth Sports

When considering organized youth sports, there are also potential areas for concern, including:

Parents consumed with winning. When youth sports become a bad experience, it is generally due to the actions of adults, not the kids.

Elimination of children at early ages. In their quest to win, coaches may play the best athletes most of the time, and may even cut or discourage youngsters who do not possess the talent or physical maturity of their peers. A good coach will make sure that every child on the team gets a chance to enjoy the sport.

Too much organization. Kids need structure, but too much organization can sometimes be detrimental. Children will benefit from making their own decisions, making mistakes, and figuring out how to solve problems on and off the field.

Create a Positive Sports Experience for Children

To ensure that organized sports are positive and learning experiences for young athletes, be sure to:

Choose age-appropriate activities. Children should be challenged in both practice and in games, but must be able to achieve some degree of success and competence. As kids get older, the complexities of the games should increase.

Provide suitable equipment. Ensure that equipment is designed for children, not adults. Adjust the size of the field and the goal, height of the basket, length of base paths, etc.

Modify rules to get kids involved. For example, small-sided games in soccer may be more appropriate than full-sided games for young players. With a bit of improvising, any sport can be made accessible to young players.

Do your homework. Check out the situation before you commit. This can include the personality of the coach, the philosophy of the organization, and the atmosphere at the games.

With the right amount of fun, competition, and learning, organized sports can be an integral part of a young person's physical and mental development.

To learn more about how we can help athletes of all ages, visit the UPMC Sports Medicine website or call 1-855-93-SPORT (77678).

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Pros and Cons of Youth Sports Participation | UPMC HealthBeat

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A well-structured and organized youth sports program can provide many benefits and positive experiences for young athletes. When done correctly and with the athlete's well-being in mind, organized sports can play an important role in a young person's life.

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Travel sports' rising costs, time investment not for everyone.

The youth sports world has changed dramatically since I grew up in the 1980s and '90s. All the way through my senior year of high school, I played football, basketball and baseball. Once basketball season was over, you'd put your stuff away and - for the most part, with the exception of some summer leagues and camps and pick-up games - not worry about it again until the next season.

If you're from that generation, or before, you can probably relate. Which makes it so fascinating to me now to see the huge boom in youth sports, from a parent's perspective. Last week, I read IndyStar correspondent Holly Johnson's article, " Why this Hamilton County family says no to travel sports " with interest.

I posted Holly's article on Twitter and asked for feedback from readers. Many agreed with her points that "travel" sports are too much of a financial and time-consumption burden. A sampling:

"If a kid is good enough for a scholarship, they will get it through (high school) sports," wrote Jon Green. "Invest AAU $ into a 529 plan instead."

"Agree 100 percent travel ball leads to specialization and burnout," wrote Dave Deitch.

"Outstanding article," wrote Brian Rea. "Way too many kids losing their childhood playing travel sports."

Westfield has spent millions of dollars in making Grand Park a youth sports destination. (Photo: Kelly Wilkinson/The Star)

"We say amen!" wrote Alicia Yilmaz. "Definitely a personal decision family to family but think there will be a lot of kids stressed/burnt out by teenage years."

"Travel baseball has hurt basic fundamentals," wrote JSandor16. "It's a money racket. Ban it until age 14. Play 100 games practice 8 (times)."

"My kids are 10 & 6," Andrew Smith wrote. "They should be having fun & learning fundamentals. We don't do travel sports."

There were those on the other side, as well. Dan King of Greenwood has been a board member for his 12-year-old son's recreational baseball league for several years. This is his son's first year playing for a travel program out of Franklin.

King found Holly's premise "too simplistic." His son isn't playing travel baseball to chase a scholarship, he said.

"Then why does our son play travel baseball?" King wrote. "While he did things like practice on his own, he was not learning how to be coached or pushed to get more out of himself by anyone outside of himself or parents because he was in most cases the least of the volunteer coaches' worries. In just a few months he's been in this new environment he's really learning how to take criticism and use it to make himself better and not just coast on what comes naturally to him."

I think it's important to distinguish what exactly "travel" sports are. My sons, fourth and second grade, play what is probably considered a level between recreation basketball and baseball and full-fledged travel. We've probably spent the night for a tournament twice and in both instances were more as sort of a "mini-vacation" than a necessity.

Spiece Indy Heat Gym Rats Jarron Coleman (11) and Tyger Campbell (10) during their Elite Youth Basketball League game April 29, 2017, at the Jonathan Byrd's Fieldhouse at Grand Park in Westfield. (Photo: Matt Kryger/IndyStar)

To me, true "travel ball" is when you are on the road multiple weekends in a season. Like Holly, I love the idea of having nowhere to be and nothing to do on some weekends (and agree that $500 a month for gymnastics for a 5-year-old is nuts). But if you believe in team sports as building characteristics in kids that can carry over to the real world as adults, you might not see it as a relentless pursuit of a scholarship that leaves you with zero benefits without one.

"Travel sports aren't for everyone and either is staying home for the weekend," wrote Chris Collier. "Better question is how many HS athletes didn't play travel?"

I talked to Nick Reich, a former high school basketball coach, for our IndyStar SportsDay podcast. His sons, 11 and 10, are in competitive basketball, soccer and baseball. The time spent in the car, or coaching his kids, isn't seen as "time lost" to travel sports. Those memories can be as precious as a carefree Saturday spent at home.

"If you're driving to a game, you might get 30 or 35 minutes with them," he said. "That is quality time. If we're home, somebody might be in the basement or in their bedroom reading a book or whatever. That time in the car can be quality time between fathers and sons."

There is no right or wrong here, which is an important point. There are unlimited options out there for travel sports and personal trainers, etc. It doesn't mean you have to do all of it, or any of it.

Is there a happy medium somewhere?

"I believe it is a fine line," Jason Roth wrote. "Parents that do it for their kids, great. Those that do it for themselves is the issue."
Call IndyStar reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.

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Insider: Families weigh pros, cons of travel sports' growing role

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Travel sports' rising costs, time investment not for everyone. The youth sports world has changed dramatically since I grew up in the 1980s and '90s. All the way through my senior year of high school, I played football, basketball and baseball.

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Debate the pros and cons of eliminating the competitive edge in childhood sports.

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As organized sport advances, professionals in the fields of athletics and healthcare have gone back and forth about the pros and cons of single multi-sport athletes

As the Summer Olympics in Rio fast approach, all parents, coaches and athletes find ourselves dreaming in red, white and blue (or gold, silver and bronze) about the road to becoming an Olympian.

Documentaries and news reports are popping up across a multitude of media outlets featuring local future Olympians rise to success in their sport. During these programs, it's easy to become inspired after learning about the athletes training regimen, success in staying healthy and overcoming their own individual obstacles in that one competition.
READ: Old Bridge hosts Olympic sendoff for Laurie Hernandez READ: Olympian Laurie Hernandez in 2011: I want to be famous
This inspiration, although positive, brings up an important topic and sometimes heated debate of the single-sport athlete vs. the multi-sport athlete. As organized sport advances, professionals in the fields of athletics and healthcare have gone back and forth about the pros and cons of each respective side and listed below are factors that weigh heavily:

Injury Risk

Studies show that children who specialize in a single sport account for 50% of the overuse injuries in youth athletics and are 70 to 93 percent more likely to be injured than multi-sport athletes. These numbers are alarming and in most cases can be attributed to the utilization or over-utilization of the same body parts, muscle groups and their supporting structures.

This process in combination with not allowing time for sufficient rest will eventually lead to the fatigue and failure of the body's muscle, tendons, ligaments and bones.

Overuse injuries, which should only become an issue after decades of play, have become more and more prevalent in our youth and teen athletes due to the amount of time spent training the same sport-specific motion. Cross-training or participating in different sports throughout the year gives the "stressed" body part the time it needs to heal while developing a more well-rounded athletic body.

Burn-Out

The saying "too much of one thing is never good for you" holds true, especially when we are discussing athletics.

Studies show that at 13 years old, 70 percent of athletes in organized sport drop out or quit due to loss of interest, boredom or burn out. Burn out can occur for many reasons, but is most commonly seen as a result from a constant pressure to win, train and perform leading to mental and physical exhaustion and stress and a lost sense of enjoyment from the sport they are playing.

Allowing the athlete to choose the sport they want to play, encouraging athletes through good and bad days and introduction of a new sport each season reduces the risk of burn out and promotes a healthier way to play!

Athletic performance and development

Participation in a variety of sports which require different physiological and psychological demands will lead to better motor skill development, decision making skills, social or interaction skills and increased motivation and self-confidence.

A 2013 study performed by the American Medical Society for Sports and Medicine found that 88% of college athletes were multi-sport athletes when they were young and attribute their success to the skills they learned from diversifying their athletic resumes. Commitment to one sport can be achieved, as we see in our professional and Olympic level athlete, but should start to be considered as the athlete enters into their college years when the body has gone through puberty and development is at the end stage.

Athletics and organized team sports are an important aspect of personal growth and when coupled with enjoyment and success can lead to a long healthy career. Remember, as previously stated, "too much of one thing is never a good thing".

Get out there and enjoy all that the organized team sports world has to offer.

John Gallucci (Photo: ~File)
John Gallucci Jr. is the president of JAG Physical Therapy (www.japgpt.com) with nine locations throughout New Jersey.
Read or Share this story: http://mycj.co/2a4OEcE

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Is it healthy for kids to play multiple sports?

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CLOSE As organized sport advances, professionals in the fields of athletics and healthcare have gone back and forth about the pros and cons of single multi-sport athletes As the Summer Olympics in Rio fast approach, all parents, coaches and athletes find ourselves dreaming in red, white and blue (or gold, silver and bronze) about the road to becoming an Olympian.

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Youth in Sport - Keeping Kids in The Game | Hugh McDonald | TEDxLangleyED

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Hugh's talk will exhibit both his love for coaching and that of sport. He will share his growth from a ""win-at-all-costs"" coach that took the experience away from the kids, to a parent and coach who values giving all children the opportunity to learn, grow, compete, and keep on playing.

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The Youth-Sports Conundrum: How Intense Is Too Intense?

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Kids in 2014 are under pressure, arguably more so than ever before. In tonight's Focus Report, we look at the increasingly intense world of youth sports - where early specialization and extreme commitment are becoming routine.

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Youth Sports Inc-Full Segment: Real Sports (HBO)

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The business of youth sports tourism is booming these days, fueled by investors who are building huge state of the art playing complexes, and parents who are willing to spend heavily on travel teams in hopes their kids can fulfill their athletic dreams. Catch Real Sports anytime on HBO OnDemand, HBO GO & HBO NOW.

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Organized, well-structured youth sports and on-going physical activities can provide many benefits for children and adolescents. Positive experiences that sports and an active lifestyle bring play an important role in a young person's life.

At University of Missouri Health Care, our adolescent medicine team encourages all children to participate in sports or other regular physical activity. Physical exercise is good for the mind, body and spirit. Team sports help teach adolescents accountability, dedication, leadership and other skills.

Many athletes do better academically

Playing a sport requires a lot of time and energy. Some people may think this would distract student-athletes from schoolwork. However, the opposite is true. Sports require memorization, repetition and learning - skillsets that are directly relevant to class work. Also, the determination and goal-setting skills a sport requires can be transferred to the classroom.

Sports teach teamwork and problem-solving skills

Fighting for a common goal with a group of players and coaches teaches you how to build teamwork and effectively communicate to solve problems. This experience is helpful when encountering problems at work or at home.

Physical health benefits of sports

Clearly, sports can help you reach your fitness goals and maintain a healthy weight. However, they also encourage healthy decision-making such as not smoking and not drinking. Sports also have hidden health benefits such as lowering the chance of osteoporosis or breast cancer later in life.

Sports boost self-esteem

Watching your hard work pay off and achieving your goals develops self-confidence. Achieving a sport or fitness goal encourages you to achieve other goals you set. This is a rewarding and exciting learning process.

Reduce pressure and stress with sports

Exercising is a natural way to loosen up and let go of stress. You can also make new friends who can be there for you as a support system. When you feel under pressure or stressed, call up a teammate, head to the gym to talk and play it out.

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At MU Health Care, we encourage all children to participate in sports or other regular physical activity. Learn why sports benefit adolescents.

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The statistics, at first glance, can seem scary indeed.

Each year, more than 775,000 children under age 15 are treated in hospital emergency rooms for sports injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

Sports injuries are the No. 1 reason for emergency room visits among children.

More than 448,000 football-related injuries to youths under 15 are annually treated in hospitals, doctors' offices, clinics, ambulatory surgery centers and emergency rooms, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

The academy says the total cost of these injuries in 1999 was $6.89 billion (including medical and legal liability), and although more recent figures aren't available, one doctor said the current cost is probably around $8 billion.

And although basketball and soccer are generally considered safe, noncontact sports, youths playing them routinely suffer bumps, bruises and scrapes. Head injuries are a possibility in soccer, too, doctors say.

So, is your kid better off cruising the Internet or watching TV than being on a basketball court or soccer field?

No, says Dr. Jordan Metzl, who recently gave a lecture called "Healthy Sports for Kids: The Role of Competition, Nutrition and Parents" at Oakland's College Preparatory School.

"It's very safe," said Metzl, who serves as a physician for several schools in New York City and is considered an expert on youth sports injuries. "The risk of injuries is much less than driving a car. There are definitely things parents and coaches need to think of in terms of preventing injuries. One in 3 kids will have some form of injury, but it's not an issue of not playing sports, but what to do to prevent injuries."

Dr. Shavi Khan of Peninsula Orthopaedic Associates in Daly City said his research shows that, of the sundry injuries incurred by those under age 15, about 20 percent are serious. He added that given that there are 25 million participants in youth and adolescent programs nationwide, the injury totals shouldn't be disturbing.

"It's not out of line," said Khan, who serves as a consultant for several San Mateo County high schools. "There's absolutely no doubt kids will get injuries in whatever they do. You take a certain risk playing sports, the important thing is (they) should remain healthy and active. The risks are much higher than sitting at home watching TV, but the benefits (of playing sports) far outweigh any risks."

Dr. Reginald Washington, chairman of the American Academy of Pediatrics' committee on sports medicine and fitness, said: "If you look at the number of kids playing, from throwing the ball around in the backyard to competitive sports in high school, it's not that many. People shouldn't be alarmed. Sports,

if done properly, adhered to the rules and properly supervised (are safe)."

Washington, of Denver, and Metzl agree that the proportion of injuries hasn't gone up in around 20 years. What has pushed up the number of injuries is the increased participation in various sports, especially among girls.

"More and more sports are evolving, and more programs are available," said Jose Bonilla, City College of San Francisco's athletic trainer. "With more participants, you're going to see the numbers rise. You are going to have injuries . . . anytime kids are involved in sports, the safety of the athlete is always a concern."

These days, there is more focus on the topic. Coaches and other adults in supervisory roles seem less likely to treat children as junior versions of professional athletes.

"Kids haven't changed much, games haven't changed much," said Chabot College athletic trainer Dan Miller, who previously served in the same capacity at Oakland's Bishop O'Dowd High in the late 1980s. "(Frequency) of injuries aren't much different than when I was at O'Dowd. Now, there's more hysteria about injuries. (Heightened) awareness makes people think it's worse."

So do highly publicized tragedies, such as the September death of a 10-year- old Chicago-area girl, who suffered a severe head injury while making a tackle during her elementary school football team's practice; she died hours later. A Texas teenager had died of a head injury the week before, after complaining of a headache.

"There are going to be five to six deaths a year in football at all levels, " said Darren Badong, a certified athletic trainer and emergency medical technician in San Francisco. "Heat stroke, head and internal injuries . . . the potential for injuries is there."

Given that football is a collision sport, it leads the pack in youth sports injuries. Bruises, pulled muscles and assorted ligament dings are part of the program from Pop Warner all the way to the NFL, but the biggest concern these days is head injuries.

"Just because a coach is CPR-trained doesn't mean he can pick up internal bleeding or a concussion," said Badong, who works with San Francisco public high schools.

"I've seen coaches say (a player) is fine. Well, that's the cover. You need to see the pages in the book. I've seen it a lot. An athlete goes down -- kids are resilient and bounce back -- but you don't know what goes on internally."

This is less of a problem at the high school level in the Bay Area, where emergency personnel, a certified trainer or a physician must be present at a football game. However, this isn't the case in youth football.

"If we could change one thing in youth sports -- besides having everyone do it," Washington, the pediatrician, said, "we should get coaches trained before they go out. Basic first-aid techniques. All you have to do is see someone get hurt to see how little people know about injuries."

Washington says another big problem with youth sports -- besides meddling parents -- is too many coaches don't know injury-prevention methods such as proper conditioning and playing techniques. This is critical in football.

"If you don't teach proper tackling and blocking and have improper conditioning, you're going to have injuries go up," Washington said. "If you're not more conditioned or properly trained, you're going to get hurt. In any sport."

Chabot's Miller said: "(Some) coaches are more concerned with Xs and Os and strategy -- they say, 'Let's just play.' They don't value warm-up, stretching and conditioning. They tell kids to run as far as you can and hit as hard as you can. . . . Kids wear protective gear, they feel invincible. They use their heads as a weapon, and (that can) cause head injuries."

That other football -- soccer -- is the staple of the suburban crowd, but little Jenny or Joshua stand a chance of getting hurt during any given match. Bruises, cuts and scrapes are among the most common injuries listed by one health organization, although there are other possibilities: Heading, done improperly, can lead to headaches or a concussion.

"There's not much protective gear in soccer," Dr. Jordan Metzl said. "People don't think it's as dangerous as it is -- there are high-velocity injuries (players running into each other), concussions and fractures."

Another youth sport that can be of concern is cheerleading. The movie "Bring It On" failed to mention that this avocation keeps many a doctor busy.

"There are more injuries in cheerleading (per capita) than any other sport, " Washington said. "Most people don't know that."

Peninsula Orthopaedic's Khan does.

"The cheerleading world is more dicey in terms of what it has to offer," he said. "Most aren't supervised, and girls aren't conditioned in what they do with their bodies. It's not regimented, there are no rules or referees. (The number of injuries) is higher than it should be."

Still, factors such as improved equipment, better supervision, more attention paid to conditioning and nutrition make youth sports as safe as they've ever been. Also important, there is no longer the attitude of treating most injuries as just a little "boo-boo."

"(When I was a kid), a lot of injuries went undetected," said Miller. "You never had anyone who paid attention to them. Now, everybody knows what an (anterior cruciate ligament) is. Then, nobody knew what it was."

Bonilla said, "We just got up and continued playing until we couldn't play anymore."

Those days are gone. But there aren't too many parents around who would rather see their kids inactive than running around on a field or court.

"It's worth the risk, for sure," Miller said. "A lot of the good memories of my childhood come from youth sports. It's good for social development. I have more positive than negative (experiences) -- they taught me teamwork, unity and handling defeat.

"And it's better than sitting in front of the TV. Even with the risk (of being hurt), I would allow my kid to participate in any organized sport if he or she wanted to."

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Youth sports -- too dangerous? / Are youth sports too harmful?

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Each year, more than 775,000 children under age 15 are treated in hospital emergency rooms for sports injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. Sports injuries are the No. 1 reason for emergency room visits among children.

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For the 45 million children ages 6 through 16 currently participating in youth sports, many parents are having to reach deep into their pockets to cover the rising costs of equipment and sports-related activities.

In the United States, parents spend $671 on average per year to cover the costs of uniforms and the hefty fees charged for registration, lessons and coaching, and at least 1 in 5 ends up spending over $1,000 per child, every year. The result, according to TurboTax's most recent infographic, is that youth sports are no longer an excellent opportunity for social involvement determined by passion and skill, but by the family's financial resources, sustaining a $5 billion-a-year industry.

The graphic, titled The High Cost of Youth Sports, lists the most and least expensive organized sports, based on a survey of more than 1,000 parents with student athletes in grades 6 through 12, and offers several tips on how to keep youth sports expenses under control.

Here's the complete look at the costs of playing organized sports:

Parents sports youth sports family budget

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parents sports youth sports family budget

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For the 45 million children ages 6 through 16 currently participating in youth sports, many parents are having to reach deep into their pockets to cover the rising costs of equipment and sports-related activities.

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Pros for Playing Multiple Sports

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So many of us have done the Saturday relay race: karate to soccer game to basketball practice. From softball to swim team. Baseball practice to a hockey tournament.

When my kids were young, the world of sports and activities was their oyster. They played multiple sports, tried on things to see what fit while we drove from one side of town to the other, coordinating calendars, resolving scheduling conflicts and keeping all the local drive-thru fast-food joints in business with to-and-fro dining in the mini-van.

A few seasons of soccer, overlapping with the start of CYO basketball, which overlapped with the start of Little League season. Mix in the odd volleyball camp, rec department tennis class and some middle school track and you've got a drawer full of old team pictures, a lot of participation trophies and a whole lot of days on the snack schedule.

Then maybe that club coach asked for a larger commitment, or the select team came calling. Maybe the schedule just wasn't working anymore and it was too tough to squeeze in multiple practices and games each week around homework and band or group projects.

As many kids got closer to high school, they begin to narrow the field of their sports participation, some by choice and the natural culling process. Others because someone else thinks it's best.

They begin to "specialize." And certainly, there are things to gain from the focus on one sport -- a true offseason, better opportunities against higher levels of competition, perhaps even a shot at being a collegiate athlete. But kids lose by specializing, as well, because there are some very good reasons to stay a multi-sport athlete.

1. Fewer overuse injuries. Growing bodies can become overstressed by repetition and that stress can lead to injuries. A lack of rest and recovery time in year-round sports exacerbates the problem. There are plenty of examples of serious, grown-up sports injuries happening to kids at younger and younger ages, from Tommy John surgery for 12-year-olds to high school girls with multiple ACL injuries before they graduate. Studies show that playing multiple sports leads to better muscle, motor and skill development. It promotes general athleticism, balance, speed and agility.

2. Less opportunity for emotional burn-out. Kids who spend so much time focusing on one sport -- and whose families are similarly solely focused -- risk tiring of the sport all together. Specializing raises expectations, the costs for parents for travel and club teams and the pressure on young athletes. Having a variety of experiences keeps things interesting, the monotony of a single sport goes away, and so does that pressure.

3. Exposure to different kids. Soccer friends will be different from swimming friends, who will be different from the kids in your Tai-Kwon-Do class. Exposing kids to different sports allows them to share teammate experiences and make memories with a diverse group of peers. It helps them expand their social circle and their opportunities for interaction.

4. Exposure to different roles. Being a bench player on the basketball team is a different experience than being a starting pitcher on the baseball team. It's an opportunity to broaden their experiences, socially and developmentally. It's an opportunity to become a better competitor and all-around athlete, the kind that coaches value because they are flexible, multi-dimensional, exposed to many situations and coachable.

5. Not putting all your eggs in one basket. Playing only one sport limits your options. An injury, a bad experience with a coach or a reduced role on a more competitive team can bring an abrupt end to an athletic career. Such a small number of high school athletes move on to play a sport in college; even fewer earn an athletic scholarship. If the goal is to play as long as possible, perhaps it makes the most sense to play as many sports as possible? Just ask Derek Jeter, who played basketball in high school, or Elena Delle Donne, who played volleyball at Delaware before returning to the basketball team on the way to the WNBA, or Robert Griffin III, who played baseball and ran track.

My confession here is that my son ended up being a single-sport athlete by the time he got to high school. Baseball was his passion, and the other sports fell off the schedule and the radar. The skateboard that used to be his constant companion in middle school started to gather dust in the garage, and the old basketballs and soccer cleats got donated to charity. He is now a college baseball player, competing at a Division III school.

And while focusing on one sport may have played a role in getting him there, I can't imagine, in retrospect, that it was the only path. I've heard him say that he wished that boys volleyball season wasn't the same as baseball, because he would have played. I've heard him boast that the 3-point stroke he had on the middle school basketball team magically returned while playing pick-up basketball with some of his buddies. One of his high school friends was the football team's starting quarterback and he's playing club hockey in college now and loving every minute of it.

You just never know how things are going to turn out.

I retired the mini-van a few years ago, traded it in for a new car and watched with misty eyes as it was driven off into the depths of the used-car lot. But not before I cleared out some old soccer cones and a least one ball bouncing around in the "way back."

The old days of the Saturday relay are long gone. I didn't realize at the time how good those days were. They were fun. And isn't that the whole point?

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5 reasons you want your kid to be a multi-sport athlete

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So many of us have done the Saturday relay race: karate to soccer game to basketball practice. From softball to swim team. Baseball practice to a hockey tournament. When my kids were young, the world of sports and activities was their oyster.

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If your youth athlete is talented enough to be on a highly competitive travel team, they are probably used to being the best player on their league team. Stepping up to a new level of competition means they may have to work that much harder to stay on top. Chances are they will face teams that are just as good, if not much better, than theirs and they will have to learn how to handle losing with grace. Being on a competitive sports team can really help your youth athlete learn not only how to be a better athlete, but how to be a better person.
2. Socialization.
Competitive sports teams are like families. Your child will spend countless hours with their teammates on the field, in the car and at after-game parties/dinners. Held together by a common love of their sport, competitive teams are a great place for your player to make life-long friends, learn how to interact in a large group and develop leadership skills that will be incredibly useful later in life.
3. A healthier lifestyle.
In order to be a highly competitive athlete, your player needs to be in top shape. They have to make sure they eat right and stay hydrated, so they'll learn the importance of balanced nutrition and may develop healthy eating habits that will stick with them long after they leave the team. Competitive athletes are also likely to be much more physically active than other kids their age, and learning to love being active is going to have a drastic impact on their life down the road.
1. High cost.
Highly competitive youth sports teams are much more likely to travel long distances and play in weekend-long tournaments. This means sports parents will have to pay for transportation (gas or airfare), hotels, food, tournament fees, backup equipment, home/away uniforms and much more. Being involved on a competitive youth sports team can get very expensive very quickly.
2. Minimal free time.
When a youth athlete decides to make the jump from regular league or recreational sports to a competitive travel time, they are going to lose a lot of their free time. Chances are they won't have time to get too involved in other sports or extracurricular activities, and nights and weekends are going to be booked all season long. Even the off-season could be filled with strength and conditioning requirements.
3. Pressure to perform.
If your youth athlete wants to be on a competitive sports team, make sure they understand that the demand to perform is a lot higher than they might expect. Travel teams usually hold tryouts and are only looking for the best athletes. They are expected to make that team a priority over other activities and always be on top of their game.

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The Pros and Cons of Being on a Competitive Youth Sports Team

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If your youth athlete is talented enough to be on a highly competitive travel team, they are probably used to being the best player on their league team. Stepping up to a new level of competition means they may have to work that much harder to stay on top.

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Sports Injuries

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1.35 million kids were seen in a hospital ER in 2012 for a sports-related injury

1 child every 3 minutes was seen for a sports-related concussion

Younger athletes%2C ages 12 to 15%2C made up 47%25 of concussions

Occasional bumps and bruises are expected when kids play sports, but for more than 1.35 million children last year a sports-related injury was severe enough to send them to a hospital emergency department.

Sprains and strains, fractures, contusions, abrasions and concussions top the list of sports-related ER diagnoses for kids ages 6 to 19 - at a cost of more than $935 million each year, according to a report out Tuesday from the non-profit advocacy group Safe Kids Worldwide.

The report, which analyzed data for 2011 and 2012, did not find a statistical difference between the two years, but is concerning - one in five kids who go to ERs for treatment of an injury is there for sports injuries, says Kate Carr, Safe Kids president and CEO.

"Far too many kids are arriving in emergency rooms for injuries that are predictable and preventable," Carr says.

Using data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, the report focused on pediatric sports injuries related to 14 common sports activities, including football, cheerleading, soccer and basketball. More than 46.5 million children played team sports in 2011, says the report.

It finds that in 2012, 12% of all ER visits (163,670) involved a concussion, the equivalent of one every three minutes. Nearly half (47%) were in kids ages 12 to 15.

That's particularly troubling, given research showing that younger athletes take a longer time to heal than older athletes after a concussion, which is a traumatic brain injury, because their bodies are still growing, Carr says. "And we know that a second concussion later can cause even more issues."

Like previous studies, the new report shows that in sports in which both girls and boys participate, girls report a higher percentage of concussions. Among youth basketball players, for example, 11.5% of girls seen in the ER are diagnosed with concussions, compared with 7.2% of boys. Among soccer players, it's 17.1% of girls compared with 12.4% of boys.

It's unclear what accounts for the variation, says sports medicine physician Kathryn Ackerman, co-director of the Female Athlete Program at Boston Children's Hospital. "We are still looking into it, trying to see if there are really genetic differences, differences in play, or differences in biomechanics, but we don't have that link yet." Ackerman was not involved in the new study.

Although the number of injuries cited in the new report may seem high, the actual number is likely even higher, says Neeru Jayanthi, a sports medicine physician at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago. That's because the study included only ERs, and many kids go to urgent care centers, their regular doctor or a sports medicine clinic, says Jayanthi, who was not involved in the study.

Nor do the figures highlight the significant number of overuse injuries, "about 25% of which end up being serious," he says. Overuse injuries to tendons, bones and joints can result from playing the same sport and performing the same movements too often, too hard or at too young an age with inadequate recovery time.

Research reported earlier this year by Jayanthi and colleagues found that young athletes who played a single sport for more hours a week than years they were old - such as a 10-year-old who played 11 or more hours of soccer - were 70% more likely to experience serious overuse injuries.

Letting the body rest, adding preventive and strengthening exercises, and following proper technique are among injury prevention strategies recommended in the new report. It also says athletes should be encouraged to speak up about injuries, coaches should be supported in injury-prevention decisions, and parents and young athletes should become better educated about sports safety.

"These statistics don't have to be part of the game if we take some simple precautions," Carr says.

Among other findings from the report:

* Football resulted in both the highest number of all pediatric injuries (394,350) and the highest concussion rate (40 per 10,000 athletes). Wrestling and cheerleading had the second- and third-highest concussion rates (15 per 10,000 athletes and 12 per 10,000 athletes, respectively).

* Ice hockey had the highest percentage (31%) of concussion injuries; its rate was 10 per 10,000 athletes.

* The most common injuries were to the ankle (15%), followed by head (14%) finger (12%), knee (9%) and face (7%).

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1.35 million youths a year have serious sports injuries

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1.35 million kids were seen in a hospital ER in 2012 for a sports-related injury 1 child every 3 minutes was seen for a sports-related concussion Younger athletes%2C ages 12 to 15%2C made up 47%25 of concussions Occasional bumps and bruises are expected when kids play sports, but for more than 1.35 million children last year a sports-related injury was severe enough to send them to a hospital emergency department.

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Sports Injuries Statistics

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How frequently do sports injuries occur?

In the U.S., about 30 million children and teens participate in some form of organized sports, and more than 3.5 million injuries each year, which cause some loss of time of participation, are experienced by the participants. Almost one-third of all injuries incurred in childhood are sports-related injuries. By far, the most common injuries are sprains and strains.

Obviously, some sports are more dangerous than others. For example, contact sports such as football can be expected to result in a higher number of injuries than a noncontact sport such as swimming. However, all types of sports have a potential for injury, whether from the trauma of contact with other players or from overuse or misuse of a body part.

The following statistics are from the National SAFE KIDS Campaign and the American Academy of Pediatrics:

Injury rates:

More than 3.5 million children ages 14 and younger get hurt annually playing sports or participating in recreational activities.

Although death from a sports injury is rare, the leading cause of death from a sports-related injury is a brain injury.

Sports and recreational activities contribute to approximately 21 percent of all traumatic brain injuries among American children.

Almost 50 percent of head injuries sustained in sports or recreational activities occur during bicycling, skateboarding, or skating incidents.

More than 775,000 children, ages 14 and younger, are treated in hospital emergency rooms for sports-related injuries each year. Most of the injuries occurred as a result of falls, being struck by an object, collisions, and overexertion during unorganized or informal sports activities.

Where and when:

Playground, sports, and bicycle-related injuries occur most often among children between ages 5 and 14 years old.

The highest rates of injury occur in sports that involve contact and collisions.

More severe injuries occur during individual sports and recreational activities.

Most organized sports-related injuries (62 percent) occur during practice.

Types of sports and recreational activities

Consider these estimated injury statistics for 2009 from the Consumer Product Safety Commission:

Basketball. More than 170,000 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for basketball-related injuries.

Baseball and softball. Nearly 110,000 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for baseball-related injuries. Baseball also has the highest fatality rate among sports for children ages 5 to 14, with three to four children dying from baseball injuries each year.

Bicycling. More than 200,000 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for bicycle-related injuries.

Football. Almost 215,000 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for football-related injuries.

Ice hockey. More than 20,000 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for ice hockey-related injuries.

In-line and roller skating. More than 47,000 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for in-line skating-related injuries.

Skateboarding. More than 66,000 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for skateboarding-related injuries.

Sledding or toboggan. More than 16,000 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for sledding-related injuries.

Snow skiing or snowboarding. More than 25,000 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for snow boarding and snow skiing-related injuries.

Soccer. About 88,000 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for soccer-related injuries.

Trampolines. About 65,000 children ages 14 and under were treated in hospital emergency rooms for trampoline-related injuries.

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In the U.S., about 30 million children and teens participate in some form of organized sports, and more than 3.5 million injuries each year, which cause some loss of time of participation, are experienced by the participants. Almost one-third of all injuries incurred in childhood are sports-related injuries.