High school football players in the United States had the highest rate of injury during the 2005-06 school year, compared with athletes in other sports, according to a study.
“Sports-Related Injuries Among High School Athletes—United States, 2005–06 School Year” is available from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Conducted by the Center for Injury Research and Policy, based at Columbus Children’s Hospital in Ohio, the study used data from 100 schools across the country. It found that football players had an overall injury rate of 4.36 athletes injured per 100 participants, compared with under three athletes injured per 100 for wrestling and boys’ and girls’ soccer; 2.01 for girls’ basketball; and 1.89 for boys’ basketball.
In addition, the study found that injury rates were higher in games than practices for all sports.
