After school sports are a large part of many adolescent lives. These sports provide healthy competition that shapes young athletes where they may develop self-discipline and teamwork, and improve physical fitness and coordination. However, if sports are not played carefully and symptoms of injury are not recognized, severe damage can occur.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in 2016, emergency departments, doctors’ offices and clinics treated:

• 189,829 people for volleyball-related injuries;
• 974,865 for football-related injuries;
• 618,955 for soccer-related injuries; and
• 98,824 for cheerleading-related injuries

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) encourages parents and athletes to follow these safety tips and share them with young athletes to reduce their risk of injury, keeping them healthy and active long after the season is over.