Youth Sports Injuries Statistics: Rates by Sport

Youth sports injuries are common, but the actual scope can be difficult to grasp without specific numbers. According to Stanford Children's Health(opens in new tab), here's what the overall picture looks like:

• 3.5 million children ages 14 and younger get hurt playing sports or participating in recreational activities each year
• 62% of organized sports-related injuries occur during practice, not competition

Injury Rates vs. Participation Numbers

These numbers should be read alongside participation data. With over 55% of children ages 6-17 participating in sports, the absolute injury count reflects how many young athletes there are, not necessarily that sports are unusually dangerous. The rate of injury per participant varies significantly by sport, age, and competition level.

Not all sports carry equal injury risk. A 13-year high school injury surveillance study(opens in new tab) tracked injury rates across nine high school sports using athlete-exposures (AE), where one AE equals one athlete participating in one practice or competition session.

Injury Rates per 10,000 Athlete-Exposures

Why Contact Sports Lead

Boys' football's injury rate (37.3 per 10,000 AE) is nearly double that of most other sports. The combination of high-speed collisions, tackling mechanics, and player mass creates more force on joints and tissue. Girls' soccer ranks second largely due to ACL injury rates, which are two- to eight-fold higher in female athletes(opens in new tab) than males in the same sport.

Lower-contact sports like volleyball and baseball have significantly lower rates, though they carry their own risks — particularly overuse injuries from repetitive motion.

The most common injury types point directly to where prevention efforts matter most — and what warning signs to watch for.

Injury Types

Ligament sprains account for nearly a third of all acute injuries in high school sports. These soft tissue injuries often result from inadequate warm-ups, fatigue, or sudden direction changes. Concussions, the second most common category at 21%, have received increased attention due to long-term health concerns.

Injuries by Body Area

Lower extremity injuries dominate across nearly every sport, accounting for almost half (48.9%) of all acute injuries. The ankle and knee are the most commonly injured joints. Head, face, and neck injuries make up over a quarter (25.6%) of injuries and are the primary concern in contact sports like football, soccer, and wrestling.

High school athletes face unique injury patterns due to higher intensity, more competitive play, and the physical demands of adolescent growth. The high school injury surveillance study(opens in new tab) provides detailed data from 13 years of tracking.

Competition vs Practice Risk

The 3.7x higher injury rate during competition compared to practice reflects the increased intensity, physical contact, and pressure of game situations. This finding has practical implications: coaches can structure practice intensity progressions that prepare athletes for competition demands without creating unnecessary injury risk.

Gender Differences

Boys have a higher overall injury rate (25.0 vs 16.7 per 10,000 AE), largely because football — the highest-risk sport — is predominantly male. However, in gender-comparable sports like soccer and basketball, girls actually have higher acute injury rates than boys. Female athletes also experience ACL injuries at two- to eight-fold the rate of males(opens in new tab) in the same sport. Research points to differences in neuromuscular control, hormonal factors, and anatomical alignment as contributing factors.

Overuse injuries are a growing concern in youth sports. Unlike acute injuries from a single event, overuse injuries develop gradually from repetitive stress without adequate recovery. The American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 clinical report(opens in new tab) addresses this trend directly.

Key Overuse Statistics

• 50% of youth sports injuries are caused by overuse rather than acute trauma
• Over 60 million children and adolescents participate in organized sports, increasing exposure
• Overuse injuries are a growing concern as specialization and year-round training become more common

Early Specialization and Injury Risk

The AAP recommends against single-sport specialization before late adolescence (around age 15-16). Athletes who specialize early face documented risks:

• Higher rates of stress fractures and tendon injuries
• Increased burnout leading to sport dropout
• Repetitive stress on the same muscle groups and joints year-round
• Less overall athletic development compared to multi-sport athletes

Common Overuse Injuries by Sport

• Baseball/softball: Little Leaguer's elbow and shoulder from throwing volume
• Running/track: Shin splints, stress fractures from repetitive impact
• Swimming: Swimmer's shoulder from stroke repetition
• Soccer: Osgood-Schlatter disease, hip flexor strains from kicking
• Gymnastics: Wrist stress injuries, spondylolysis from repetitive hyperextension

Coaches have direct influence over injury rates. Here are specific strategies backed by AAP research and injury surveillance data.

Training Load Management

• Follow the 10% rule: increase training volume by no more than 10% per week
• Schedule rest days — young athletes need at least 1-2 days off per week
• Monitor cumulative load across multiple teams or sports
• Adjust intensity during growth spurts, when injury risk increases

Warm-Up and Prevention Programs

Research shows that structured warm-up programs can reduce injuries by 30-50%(opens in new tab). The FIFA 11+ program(opens in new tab), for example, has been shown to reduce soccer injuries by up to 39% when performed consistently. Key warm-up elements include:

• Dynamic stretching (not static stretching before activity)
• Neuromuscular training and balance exercises
• Sport-specific movement preparation
• Gradual intensity progression

Multi-Sport Participation

Encouraging athletes to play multiple sports is one of the most effective injury prevention strategies. The AAP recommends delaying sport specialization, and research shows multi-sport athletes have fewer overuse injuries and longer overall sports involvement. Coaches who apply evidence-based training approaches can design programs that develop well-rounded athletes.

Tracking and Early Detection

Consistent monitoring helps spot injury patterns early — fatigue, rapid growth phases, and increasing training loads all raise risk. Systematic tracking through tools like Striveon's athlete development platform makes it easier to monitor each athlete's workload and recovery status over time.