Sports Safety Summary Playing sports can be fun, but it can also be dangerous if you are not careful. You can help prevent injuries by Getting a physical to make sure you are healthy before you start playing your sport Wearing the right shoes, gear, and equipment Drinking lots of water Warming up and stretching If you have already hurt yourself playing a sport, make sure you recover completely before you start up again. If possible, protect the injured part of your body with padding, a brace, or special equipment. When you do start playing again, start slowly. Reference Desk ACSM Fit Society Page American College of Sports Medicine Find an Expert American College of Sports Medicine American College of Sports Medicine Array Back pain and sports How to avoid exercise injuries Returning to sports after a back injury Specifics Ballet and Dance American Academy of Pediatrics Trampoline Safety in Childhood and Adolescence American Academy of Pediatrics Seniors Biking Safely National Institute on Aging Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Bicycling National Institutes of Health NIH MedlinePlus Magazine Concussion: Doug Flutie: “Be on the Safe Side.” Women Exercise and Bone Health for Women: The Skeletal Risk of Overtraining National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Female Athlete Triad American Academy of Family Physicians Children For Parents, Teachers and Coaches: About Sports Eye Injury and Protective Eyewear National Eye Institute Preventing Children’s Sports Injuries Nemours Foundation Preventing Musculoskeletal Sports Injuries in Youth: A Guide for Parents National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Safety Tips: Baseball (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Safety Tips: Basketball (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Related Issues Four Quarters of Football Helmet Safety Consumer Product Safety Commission How to Prevent Skin Conditions in Athletes American Academy of Dermatology Lightning Safety and Outdoor Sports Activities National Weather Service Mouthguard Academy of General Dentistry Journal Articles Sports Safety Teenagers Sports and Exercise Safety Nemours Foundation Sports Physicals Nemours Foundation Start Here Sports Injury Prevention Tip Sheet American Academy of Pediatrics Encyclopedia Sports physical Statistics and Research Youth Sports Safety Statistics National Athletic Trainers’ Association Latest News Skateboarding Mishaps Send 176 U.S. Kids to ERs Every Day HealthDay Delayed Treatment for Concussion May Prolong Recovery HealthDay Concussion Tied to More School Problems Than Other Sports Injuries HealthDay Injuries More Common in Teens Who Focus on Single Sport HealthDay