Kids and sports-related injuries are like peanut butter and jelly: inseparable and forever linked. Nearly every child knows or has been the kid in the class with the cast on his arm, getting classmates to sign the cast as a means of getting well. Thanks to kids being kids, injuries are common among the world’s youngsters, especially those heavily involved in sports. A number of factors can influence how likely a child is to suffer a sports-related injury. Fortunately, just as many preventive measures can be taken to make sure children learn more about the joys of competition than the pain of the emergency room. Monitor and maintain all equipment. Children often fall victim to dilapidated equipment, some of which is used for far too long. Though sports equipment doesn’t have an expiration date, like everything else it can see effectiveness reduced thanks to the wear and tear of yearly use. Helmets, be they for baseball, football or just riding bikes, and other protective gear such as pads or eyewear should be inspected on a regular basis to ensure they’re still capable of doing what they’re supposed to do: protect your children. Protect playing surfaces. Run-down playing surfaces are often the culprit when children are injured playing sports. A pothole-laden blacktop or a baseball field filled with gopher holes can be very damaging to children, leading to serious injuries that could affect their ability to compete the rest of their lives. Fields littered with sink holes or holes caused by critters can result in serious knee or ankle injuries. If such fields exist, write your local politician with your concerns. Fields that are fenced in are less likely to fall victim to critters that dig up turf, leaving them in shoddy condition for children just looking to have a good time. Children should also avoid playing on concrete surfaces, such as concrete basketball courts, tracks or hockey rinks. Falls onto concrete can cause significant damage, and running on such surfaces can take its toll on a child’s knees or even cause painful shin splints over time. Pay attention. Though it’s impossible to keep an eye on your kids at all times, doing so as much as you can will go a long way to preventing injury. Particularly when involved in athletics, children have a tendency to get over-aggressive as their competitive fires burn, which can result in serious injury. Parents should hammer home the idea that a game is just a game and to always avoid letting their emotions get the best of them.