Which sports pose the highest injury risk for high school athletes?

Hi there! I'm looking to participate in a high school sport next year. However, I'd like to know, for the sake of safety, which sports tend to have the highest injury rates among high school athletes?

While it's wonderful that you're considering participation in high school sports, your safety concern is equally important.

According to nationwide injury data, the high injury rate sports for high school athletes include football, wrestling, and girls' soccer, predominantly due to the physical and contact-based nature of these games.

Football is considered at the highest risk because of its inherent contact nature, resulting in injuries like concussions, sprains, and fractures, among others. Wrestling also sees a higher incidence of injury, especially sprains and muscle strains, as it involves high-intensity contact.

Girls' soccer has been flagged for a high rate of concussions, comparable to that seen in boys football and wrestling. This is often attributed to player collisions and 'headers' (hitting the ball with the head) during matches.

But it's also essential to keep in mind that injury risk can be mitigated with proper equipment, training (like strength conditioning and training in specific movements for the sport), and good coaching practices. So, when choosing your sport, consider these risk factors and the safety protocols your high school has in place for each sport. It might be helpful to discuss this further with your school's athletic director or coach, who can provide more detailed safety-related information.