Supporting Student Safety in High School Athletics

High school sports programs are often an important part of the high school experience, and for the athletes participating, there are significant benefits in terms of health and fitness, teamwork, social relationships and more. However, there are also significant risks which, without preventative training around athlete safety and health, can result in tragedy.

The Risks of Sports

Every year students are injured, or even killed playing high school and youth sports. Between 2001 and 2023 there were 440 youth sports deaths, according to the Louisville Courier Journal series “Safer Sidelines.” The series compared the number of students over the last 10 years who have died at school due to natural disasters versus playing high school sports:

Number of student deaths:

• Tornadoes: 7
• Fires: 0
• Playing high school sports: 200+

Often, these tragedies are preventable through education, preparedness and training. The U.S. Council for Athletes’ Health (USCAH) stresses the importance of high school athletic programs having emergency response plans and organization-wide prevention programs. Implementing health and safety best practices and training on how to keep students safe and healthy for all athletic administrators, coaches, and staff are also vital to reducing the risk of injury and death.

“The real tragedy of this is that when an athlete dies, we see there’s almost always something that could have been addressed that may have been helpful in preventing the outcome,” says Dr. James Borchers, USCAH President and CEO.

Supporting Athlete Health and Safety

Prevention programs can help reduce the chance of injury or death in athletics. Some recommendations from USCAH include:

Education and Training.

It’s important for everyone involved in the athletic program to receive health and safety training. This includes the coaches and trainers, and also the parents and students themselves; anyone who might be in a position to see a warning sign or to assist if something goes wrong. Paying attention to the heat index and knowing that astroturf has a higher temperature than a grass field, making sure students have proper equipment, are staying hydrated and getting enough sleep are all important factors in keeping students safe. Borchers noted that heat illness and heat stroke are among the most preventable types of injuries, yet athletes die from these things every year, often because those involved haven’t been properly trained about how to prevent it, and/or how to respond when it occurs. He encourages parents to educate themselves about risks like heat illness, and advocate for their children. “Would you let your child go into a game or practice where there is a heat issue? Parents need to be asking what the plan is, how the school is going to respond, and whether they are ready to respond.”

Emergency Action Plans.

Emergency plans can help all parties respond efficiently and effectively when an athlete is injured. USCAH advocates having plans specific to athletics and personalized for each sport. These plans include everything from pre-event preparation to ensuring proper equipment like defibrillators are available, to making sure everyone knows their role and what to do if an emergency occurs.

Instilling Healthy Habits.

It’s impossible to underestimate the importance of sleep and healthy eating in improving athletic performance and protecting athletes from injury. Sleep is how the body recovers and is also critical to supporting good mental health. When a person is chronically fatigued or always tired it will impact their athletic performance and could lead to injury. The same goes for healthy eating. A balanced diet also helps athletes stay healthy and injury-free by keeping the body functioning well.

Understanding limitations, and looking beyond just the next game.

High school sports can be very competitive and athletes may want to push their limits. One of the most common injuries among high school athletes according to USCAH is overuse injuries which occur when training and conditioning go beyond what the body can handle. High school and youth athletes’ bodies are still developing so it’s important to understand their limitations and to factor in recovery time. It’s also important to create a culture in which the students – and their families and coaches – are thinking long-term about students’ health. Taking care of themselves now can prolong their athletic career, whereas getting injured in high school can potentially sideline hopes of pursuing a sport in college.

Protecting students’ health and safety in high school and youth sports is a team effort. Prioritizing education, preparedness and best practices such as those mentioned above will go a long way toward protecting athletes from injury, and reducing the risk of tragedy occurring.

How Vector Solutions Can Help

Vector Solutions has partnered with the U.S. Council for Athletic Health and Safety (USCAH) to provide a comprehensive library of courses to help high school athletic departments support athlete safety and mitigate risk. Courses are delivered through the Vector Training system, making it easy to assign, track, and manage training for coaches and staff across your district.

Courses include:

• Basic First Aid in Sports
• Basic Injuries and Conditions in Athletics
• Cervical Spine Injuries and Management
• Collapse in Athletes for Non-Healthcare Personnel
• Concussion in Youth and High School Sports
• Emergency Action Plan Development
• Exertional Heat Illness and Prevention
• Mental Health in Sport
• Overtraining in Sport
• Respiratory Conditions in Sport
• Sudden Cardiac Injuries and Commotio Cordis in Sport
• Trauma-Sensitive Coaching Practices
• And More