Do Athletes Sports Injuries Outweigh The Benefits?

Sports for Children

Do the risks of athletes’ sports injuries outweigh the benefits? Doctors are beginning to see serious harm put on youth athletes due to high magnitude sports. Competitiveness should be regulated by parents and coaches in a positive manner, so the athletes are not being pushed too strenuously. Sport injuries can lead to students becoming disabled; there are numerous cons to playing single sports at a young age. The statistics of sports injuries are increasing yearly with the number of athletes ages decreasing. For example, “The numbers are scary: 3.5 million sports injuries in teens and children every year” (Press of Atlantic City 1). These youth will begin to ignore or push off the pain of their abrasions, which could

For example, “‘Coaches must provide training on safe techniques at practice- which of course requires becoming educated themselves’” (Jordan 1). Teachers and athletic directors should teach students and athletes the dangers of high intensity sports. Additionally, “In April 2007, for example, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) released a set of guidelines for treating high school and college athletes suffering from sudden cardiac arrest” (High School Sports Injuries 3). This shows how NATA and other associations want to help decrease the percentage of athletic injuries by enforcing laws. On the opposite side, there are benefits of playing in high school sports can give students an advantage. For instance, “Both advocates and critics of high school sports programs express concern about injuries to student athletes, but also acknowledge that sports participation can help young people by promoting physical fitness, teamwork, and higher self-esteem” (High School Sports Injuries 5). Even though this is all true, the risks outweigh the benefits because a severe enough injury can lead an athlete to