Top 5 Most Dangerous Youth Sports In The World

Most dangerous youth sports – The advantages of sports for kids are numerous. In addition to helping to prevent childhood obesity, exercise is linked to better academic performance and social development. Although each of these benefits is good for kids, sports can potentially harm their physical development. And some sports, however, are more dangerous than others. Here are the top 5 most dangerous youth sports in the world.

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List of 5 most dangerous youth sports around the world

The sports we want to cover in this section include American Football, soccer, basketball, baseball, and lacrosse.

Football

In America, football is the most popular and also among the top five most dangerous sports in youth sports. Due to their inexperience and smaller stature compared to college athletes, high school football players are more vulnerable to injury. No helmet can completely prevent the dangers of concussions in youth sports and other head injuries, even though they do provide participants with some level of protection.

According to studies, football is to blame for 80% of concussions in children who play sports. A condition known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which can cause issues including confusion, memory loss, poor impulse control, and impaired judgment, is brought on by repeated blows to the head.

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Soccer

Soccer is becoming more and more popular, as seen by the five-fold increase in high school soccer participation during the previous 30 years. It is among the most dangerous youth sports because it is quite physical. There are almost 400,000 injuries suffered by high school soccer players every year.

Nearly a third of all soccer-related operations are due to knee injury. Boys who play soccer are most likely to suffer from upper leg and thigh strains as well as ankle sprains. Girls who play soccer, however, are more likely to suffer neurological problems because their necks are not strong enough to “head” the ball. Unsurprisingly, the body portion most at risk in this sport is the brain.

According to research from the Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, soccer is to blame for 8.2 percent of sports-related concussions.

Basketball

The second-most popular sport in the nation is basketball, which attracts the most boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 17, and is one of the top 5 most dangerous youth sports in the world. 

Even though it’s not a contact sport, playing on a court in the neighborhood park or a league can nevertheless be quite hazardous for children. Children under the age of 15 sustain more than 200,000 basketball-related injuries each year, involving emergency room care.

When on the court, players are more likely to fall. Ankles and knees are the most frequently hurt areas, followed by the lower back, hand, and wrist. Sprains, strains, fractures, and ACL tears in the ankle are among the most serious basketball injuries. 

The complete lack of protection for players on the court makes basketball come with the greatest risk of tooth injuries. Eye injuries are also frequently brought on by players being struck by the elbows and fingers of opposing players.

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Baseball

Contrary to expectations, contact injuries are more common in America’s favorite national pastime. Most player injuries occur as a result of collisions with a ball, a bat, or another player. Despite a decline in baseball-related injuries over the past ten years, a study found that injuries suffered by boys were more severe, making it one of the most dangerous sports for youth.

Four out of every ten injuries brought on by being struck by a batted ball resulted in fractures, lacerations, or concussions. There have even been tales of batted balls putting people into comas and bat hits causing brain hemorrhaging.

Injuries from overuse are most common in baseball. The most frequent elbow injuries among boys who play Little League are brought on mostly by incorrect pitching mechanics and repeated motion.

Lacrosse

The fastest-growing high school sport in the country is lacrosse. Varsity lacrosse teams have grown by 200 percent nationwide over the past few years. Its injured lists have expanded along with its popularity. Ankle, upper leg, and knee injuries are caused by this contact sport. 

Concussions are the most frequent above-the-waist injury in lacrosse, accounting for one in ten injuries sustained during games and training. There is an increased incidence of commotion cordis, which occurs when a nonpenetrating chest hit from a shot induces ventricular fibrillation. This can cause mortality despite an otherwise healthy heart. Therefore, it is particularly concerning among teenage male lacrosse players.

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Sum up

While all sports have inherent risks, some are more dangerous than others. The sports on this list of the top 5 most dangerous youth sports in the world account for the majority of youth sport-related fatalities each year. 

If you’re a parent or guardian of a young athlete, it’s important to be aware of these dangers. And take steps to mitigate them by ensuring your child is properly trained and supervised, wearing the appropriate safety gear, and following the rules and regulations set forth by governing bodies. And if you’re an aspiring young athlete yourself, please heed these warnings – your life may depend on it. Are there any other dangerous youth sports that we missed? Contact us on our website Sporting difference and get updated with more sports-relative information!