The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine released a report earlier this year that provides guidance to physicians and healthcare professionals who provide care for young athletes. Current studies report that overuse injuries comprise 50 percent of sports injuries but the public tends to underestimate the burden of these injuries since many do not result in time loss from activities.

Among the concerns:

Readiness: Does the child's level of growth and development match the demands of the sport?

Scheduling: Multiple competitive events in the same day or several consecutive days can be a high ratio of workload to recovery time.

Equipment: Poor fitting equipment, particularly when not adjusted for growth, can lead to injury.

Sport specialization: Diversified sports training during early and middle adolescence may be more effective in developing elite-level skills because of skill transfer. Playing multiple sports also lessens the chance for burnout because of expanded interests.

The AMSSM report says some higher-risk overuse injuries may result in prolonged recovery and have the potential to endanger future participation. Although infrequent, some may lead to long-term complications.