Youth sports injuries have become a significant public health concern, with emergency rooms across the country treating young athletes at an alarming rate. According to the National Safety Council, 1.5 million children visited emergency rooms for sports-related injuries in 2024. With children getting involved in sports at younger ages, rates of contact and overuse injuries among the youth have increased in recent years. Families whose children get hurt while playing sports because responsible parties are negligent should speak with an attorney about their legal options for pursuing financial compensation for medical expenses.
Common Youth Sports Injuries
Sports-related injuries can occur through overuse, poor technique, or contact during play. Among the most common injuries children sustain while playing sports are:
- Ankle injuries, including sprains, Achilles tendon injuries, and fractures
- Knee injuries, including runner’s knee, Osgood-Schlatter disease (overuse injury to the growth plate), or ligament tears
- Shin splints, an overuse injury to the leg bones
- Wrist injuries from falls
- Elbow injuries, including Little League elbow and UCL tears
- Shoulder injuries, including dislocation or collarbone fractures
- Traumatic brain injuries, including concussions
- Bone fractures, including stress fractures from overuse or acute injuries from forceful contact
- Vertebral stress fractures (spondylolysis)
A growing concern is the rise of overuse injuries driven by early single-sport specialization. Overuse injuries now account for up to 54% of all youth sports injuries, and are most prevalent among children aged 8 to 14, whose developing growth cartilage is more vulnerable to repetitive strain. Athletes who specialize in a single sport are 2.25 times more likely to sustain overuse injuries than their multi-sport peers.
Preventing Sports Injuries
Young children may not fully recognize the risks of injuries from playing sports and are still learning proper form and techniques during play that can help them avoid injuries. For this reason, adults who supervise youth sports, including league organizers, coaches, training staff, and referees, should take steps to reduce the risks of common youth sports injuries.
Here are some tips for preventing youth sports injuries:
- Instruct young athletes to speak up or seek help when experiencing pain or discomfort.
- Train and practice proper techniques that reduce the risk of injury.
- Have youth athletes undergo preseason physicals to identify potential concerns and establish medical baselines for later testing.
- Encourage multi-sport participation. Cross-training across different sports is one of the most effective ways to prevent overuse injuries, as it prevents repetitive strain on the same joints, tendons, and muscles.
- Ensure athletes warm up before activities, rest well, stay hydrated, and eat healthy.
- Provide young athletes with the latest protective equipment. Sports equipment manufacturers continually improve products to reduce the risk and severity of sports injuries.
Legal Challenges to Filing Child Sports Injuries Claims
Unfortunately, parents may face various challenges and obstacles when pursuing injury claims after their child gets hurt while playing sports, including:
- Liability Waivers/Assumption-of-Risk – Parents typically must sign liability waivers to allow their children to participate in sports. These waivers may indicate a family’s understanding and acceptance of the risk of injury that comes with playing sports, especially contact sports like football.
- Liability of Governmental Entities – When a sports injury occurs during play organized by governmental entities, such as public schools, governmental liability may restrict a family’s rights to seek financial recovery.
- Comparative/Contributory Negligence – The doctrines of contributory fault and comparative negligence, which can bar or reduce financial recovery in an injury claim, may affect an injured youth athlete’s rights if they bear any responsibility for causing their injury.
These complexities underscore the importance of working with an experienced personal injury lawyer.
Contact a Sports-Related Injuries Attorney Today
When your child has suffered sports injuries, your family may have the right to seek compensation from a party whose negligence or fault led to their injury. Contact Stewart Law Offices today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your family’s legal options with a dedicated attorney from our law firm.