Are Contact Sports Safe

Weighing up the risks and benefits

Regular activity helps children keep a healthy weight, build strong bones, sleep better and grow in confidence. The NHS publishes physical activity guidelines for children and young people, and organised sport can help children meet them.

Many children enjoy contact sports such as rugby, football, judo and hockey, but parents are right to think about the risks. These vary considerably between sports and levels of contact. Good coaching, rules suited to the child's age and suitable equipment can reduce some risks, but cannot remove them. The aim is to reduce avoidable risks. Modified formats such as touch or tag rugby let children gain many of the same benefits without full contact.

Boxing needs separate consideration. In sparring and competitive boxing, blows to the head are part of the sport, and gloves and headguards do not make repeated head impacts safe. The BMA and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health have opposed boxing for children because of the injury risks. Boxing fitness training without sparring is a different activity.

No child should be pressured into contact, sparring or competition. Children with an existing injury, previous concussions or a relevant health condition may need individual advice from a doctor before taking part.

Injuries in growing bodies

Children's bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments are still developing, which affects how they respond to knocks and strain. One particular concern is injury to the growth plates, areas of developing cartilage near the ends of long bones in the arms and legs. They are relatively vulnerable to injury, so a fall or twist that might cause a sprain in an adult can damage a growth plate in a child. Most of these injuries heal well, but some can affect future bone growth, particularly if the injury is severe or treatment is delayed.

During growth spurts, coordination can briefly suffer and muscles may feel tight. Overuse injuries are also common in children who train for one sport most days, so rest days and a mix of activities help.

• Do not let a child play through pain.
• Seek prompt medical help for severe pain, an obvious deformity, inability to use a limb or bear weight, or a hand or foot that is numb or cold. Some injuries need emergency care.
• For pain, swelling or limping that does not settle, contact your GP. NHS 111 can advise where your child should be seen.
• Allow full recovery before a return to training or matches.
• Expect a proper warm up at every session. Warm ups that include exercises specific to the sport have the best evidence for preventing injury.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

Concussion: what to do

Concussion is an important risk in contact sport. It can follow a blow to the head or the body, a child does not have to be knocked out, and symptoms can appear hours later. Children and teenagers may take longer to recover than adults.

The UK concussion guidelines for grassroots sport say: if in doubt, sit them out. Anyone with a suspected concussion must stop playing straight away, must not return that day, and should be assessed by a healthcare professional.

Recovery starts with a short period of relative rest, followed by a gradual return to everyday activities and school before sport. Prolonged complete rest is not recommended. The guidance sets a minimum of 21 days before any return to competition, and the child must also have completed the staged return without symptoms. Day 21 is not automatic clearance. Some sports have stricter protocols, so check with the club.

Signs include headache, dizziness, confusion, memory problems, nausea or vomiting, drowsiness, changes in behaviour, and problems with balance or vision.

Call 999 if a child after a head injury is unconscious, has a seizure, has difficulty staying awake, has new weakness, has difficulty speaking or walking, or is getting markedly worse.

Get urgent assessment at A&E if they were knocked out but are now awake, have vomited, have a headache that will not go away, or show changes in behaviour, memory or vision. The NHS head injury page lists the full warning signs.

In England, the Football Association has guidance limiting heading in children's training. Deliberate heading is also being removed from matches in affiliated grassroots youth football: for under 7s to under 9s from the 2024/25 season, under 10s from 2025/26 and under 11s from 2026/27. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own associations and rules. England Rugby uses age grade rules that introduce contact gradually.

Choosing a club and kit

Ask the club how it manages injuries, concussion and safeguarding:

• Are coaches qualified through the sport's governing body?
• Is someone trained in first aid at every session?
• Is there a concussion policy that follows official guidance?
• Are children grouped by age and, where relevant, size or ability?
• Is there a named welfare officer, and have staff had safeguarding training and the criminal record checks their role requires (DBS, PVG or AccessNI, depending on the nation)?

The NSPCC's Child Protection in Sport Unit explains what good safeguarding looks like. Club accreditation schemes from governing bodies can be a useful sign, but qualifications and accreditation alone do not guarantee safety.

Shin guards are compulsory in organised football under the Laws of the Game. Mouthguard requirements in rugby and hockey depend on the governing body, competition and age group. Mouthguards mainly protect the teeth and mouth, and headguards, including rugby scrum caps, should not be relied on to prevent concussion. Kit should fit properly and be replaced when worn or outgrown, so ask the coach what is needed.

Finally, talk to your child. Encourage them to report pain or symptoms immediately, to you or a coach, without worrying about letting the team down.