Pre-teens and teens benefit both physically and mentally from participating in sports. But it can be frustrating to be sidelined with an injury, especially if that injury could have been prevented. Outdoor play areas, equipment, and surfacing should be checked regularly.
Outdoor Safety and Quality Environments
Educational resources for athletes, parents and coaches. You are free to download our sports safety tips sheets, evaluate your playground using a simple checklist and more helpful tools in the handbooks on playtime safety.
HEADS UP to Youth Sports: Online Training
HEADS UP Concussion in Youth Sports is a free, online course available to coaches, parents, and others helping to keep athletes safe from concussion.
By taking this free, online course and using what you learn, you will be well positioned to improve the culture of concussion. Your actions can help create a safe environment for young athletes so that they can stay healthy, active, and thrive – both on and off the playing field.
Once you complete the training and quiz, you can print out a certificate, making it easy to show your league or school you are ready for the season.
What Will I Learn in This Training?
This course will help you:
- Understand a concussion and the potential consequences of this injury,
- Recognize concussion signs and symptoms and how to respond,
- Learn about steps for returning to activity (play and school) after a concussion, and
- Focus on prevention and preparedness to help keep an athlete safe season-to-season.
Read More: Free Concussion Training Course
Playgrounds are inherently safe spaces for children. They are a hub for child play, fun for families, enjoyment with friends, and places for communities to come together. However, these places are also locations where unintentional injuries occur and recent research has shown playgrounds are places where children are exposed to hazards.
Read More: Playground Safety
Video: What Would Happen If You Replaced All Drinks with Water?
Top Safety Tips
- Before playing organized sports, make sure your child receives a pre-participation physical exam, or PPE, performed by a doctor, or a nurse practitioner or qualified clinician under the supervision of a physician. Whomever performs the exam, the same practices should be followed including the need for a medical history.
- Encourage children to drink water before, during and after athletic activities or play.
- Warming up and stretching before play can release muscle tension and help prevent sports-related injuries, such as muscle tears or sprains.
- An off-season is important. It is recommended that kids get 10 consecutive weeks of rest from any one sport every year.
- Make sure your coach is trained in first aid and CPR, and understands how to prevent, recognize and/or respond to concussions and overuse injuries.
Public Downloads
All items are free to view, share, and download.
Public Downloads - Español (Spanish)
When available, we provide all our content with a Spanish version in our public download section. You can find additional material from sources listed in all our articles.
Download Sports Safety 101 Information and Resources
About Outdoor Home Playground Safety Handbook
About Public Playground Safety Handbook
Concussion Guide for Parents
Dehydration Tip Sheet
Dehydration Tip Sheet - Spanish
Handbook for Teaching Sports Essential Guide
Kids and Wheeled Sports Safety
Overuse Injury Prevention Tip Sheet
Overuse Injury Prevention Tip Sheet - Spanish
Playground Safety Checklist
Playground Safety Kid Checker Form
Playground Safety Report Card
Pre-Participation Physical Examination Form
Safe Sports Checklist Athletes
Safe Sports Checklist for Parents
Safe Sports Checklist for Parents - Spanish
Sports Safety Activity and Coloring Book
Sports Safety Changing the Culture of Concussion Infographics
Sports Safety Infographic
Sports Safety Tip Sheet
Download First Aid Activities
AED First Aid Guide for Untrained Personnel
First Aid for Burns_poster_burns
First Aid Guide for Adult Resuscitation
First Aid Guide for Burns-poster-burns-v3
First Aid Guide for Chemical Spills
First Aid Guide for Computer User
First Aid Guide for Constructions
First Aid Guide for CPR & AED Defibrillatio
First Aid Guide for Electrical Shock
First Aid Guide for External Bleeding
First Aid Guide for Eye Injury
Wikijunior First Aid eBook on all Topics
Workplace First Aid Visual Guide
Download Adventure Activity Resources
A National Park Service Index 2012-2016 HOT
All Seasons Safety Activity Book
An Overview of Nature eBook
Book of Stuff To Do
Do Not Feed Wildlife Poster
Environmental Games and Activities
Finding My Forest Tools to Re-connect with Nature Education Activity Guide
Leave No Trace Activity Playbook
Spend Time in Nature Parent Guide
Download Bicycle 101 Activities and Resources
All-in-one Bicycle 101 Fun Learning Activity Book
Bicycle Safety Activity Kit
Bicycle Safety Bookmark
Bicycle Safety Hand Signals Handout Sheet with Images
Bicycle Safety Helmet Head Poster
Bicycle Safety Rap Song
Bike Smarts Manual
Enjoy the Ride - Safe Kids
Fun Bicycle Learning Safety Flash Cards
Sarah's Bike Ride is Safe and Smart
Sprocket Man Bicycle Safety in a Comic Book
Download Bicycle 101 Activity Sheets
Bicycle Safety Bingo Sheets
Bicycle Safety Helmet Activity Sheet Sticker Art
Bicycle Safety Memory Puzzle Activity Sheets
Paul's Bicycle Safety Maze Activity Sheet
Walk To School Crossword Bonanza
Download Bicycle 101 Ages 4-7 Activities
Answer Key ages 4-7 Bicycle 101 Activities
Arrange Safety Steps ages 4-7 Bicycle 101 Activities
Color the Signs ages 4-7 Bicycle 101 Activities
Colors of Safety ages 4-7 Bicycle 101 Activities
Complete the Safety Lesson ages 4-7 Bicycle 101 Activities
Connect the Dots ages 4-7 Bicycle 101 Activities
Decorate the Helmet ages 4-7 Bicycle 101 Activities
Safety Basics ages 4-7 Bicycle 101 Activities
Word Find ages 4-7 Bicycle 101 Activities
Download Bicycle 101 Ages 8-11 Activities
Answer Key ages 8-11 Bicycle 101 Activities
Closest Route ages 8-11 Bicycle 101 Activities
Connect the Dots ages 8-11 Bicycle 101 Activities
Crossword Puzzle ages 8-11 Bicycle 101 Activities
Draw A Map ages 8-11 Bicycle 101 Activities
Find the Safety Message ages 8-11 Bicycle 101 Activities
Safety Draw Scene ages 8-11 Bicycle 101 Activities
Word Find ages 8-11 Bicycle 101 Activities
Word Scramble ages 8-11 Bicycle 101 Activities