Does Your Athlete Have the Right Safety Equipment?
Each year, cases of severe high school athletic injuries make news headlines in the United States. In addition, more than 3.5 million children ages 14 and younger get hurt annually playing sports or participating in recreational activities.
How can you keep your athlete from becoming a statistic?
One of the most important things parents can do is to make sure children have the right safety gear. While safety equipment won’t prevent all injuries, it’s vital to lowering the chances of getting hurt.
Use the guide below to determine if your athlete has the right safety gear for both organized sports and recreational fun.
For other sports safety tips, download our youth sports safety checklist for parents.
Sport |
Recommended Safety Equipment |
| Football | helmet, mouthguard, cup, and pads for the shoulder, hip, tail, thigh, and knees |
| Soccer | shin guards, cleats, mouthguard |
| Baseball and Softball | batting helmet with face mask, mouthguard, elbow guards, cup for boys
Catchers: helmet, face mask, throat guard, long-model chest protector, shin guards |
| Lacrosse | Girls: mouthguard and eye wear
Boys: helmet, mouthguard, arm guards, padded gloves, cup, shoulder pads, rib pads Goalies: gloves, helmet with face protection, throat guard, chest protector Female Goalies: leg pads, pelvic/abdominal protector |
| Basketball | mouthguard |
| Volleyball | mouthguard, knee pads |
| Wrestling | mouthguard, headgear, knee pads |
| Bicycles or Scooters | helmet that meets Consumer Product Safety Commission or Snell standards
For scooters: add knee and elbow pads |
| Skateboards | A muti-impact helmet that meets ASTM F1492 standards, wrist guards, knee pads, elbow pads |
| Skis and snowboards | goggles and helmet made for snow sports
add wrist guards for snowboarders |
Retainers and Glasses
Retainers and glasses do not provide the same protection as mouthguards and sports goggles.
- If you wear a retainer, always take it out before you start to exercise, practice, or play.
- If you wear glasses, you may need prescription polycarbonate goggles. Don’t wear your regular glasses on the court or field.
Use Equipment in Both Practice and Competition
Although 62% of organized sports-related injuries occur during practice, nearly one-third of parents report that they don’t have their children take the same safety precautions at practice as they would during a game. Be sure your child knows equipment is important for practice as well as competition.
Learn More About How to Prevent Injuries
Safety in youth athletics involves more than just using the proper equipment. To get more tips about how to prevent sports injuries, download Keeping Your Kids Safe During Sports: A Checklist for Parents.
Prevent and Treat Injuries with LeBauer Sports Medicine
Young athletes have access to complete sports medicine services at three locations in Greensboro with LeBauer Sports Medicine.
Doctors who are board-certified in sports medicine, along with athletic trainers and physical therapists, offer:
- sports physicals
- ImPACT baseline testing for athletes at risk of concussion
- injury-prevention guidance
- injury diagnosis and treatment
- comprehensive concussion diagnosis and treatment
- individualized return-to-play plans
Request an appointment online or call the location closest to you for an appointment.
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