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
DownloadSize 790.38 KB
About Public Playground Safety Handbook
DownloadSize 1.29 MB
Concussion Guide for Parents
DownloadSize 299.77 KB
Dehydration Tip Sheet - Spanish
DownloadSize 698.28 KB
Dehydration Tip Sheet
DownloadSize 612.79 KB
Kids and Wheeled Sports Safety
DownloadSize 1.09 MB
Overuse Injury Prevention Tip Sheet - Spanish
DownloadSize 862.65 KB
Overuse Injury Prevention Tip Sheet
DownloadSize 684.51 KB
Playground Safety Checklist
DownloadSize 516.1 KB
Playground Safety Kid Checker Form
DownloadSize 94.58 KB
Playground Safety Report Card
DownloadSize 516.1 KB
Pre-Participation Physical Examination Form
DownloadSize 137.46 KB
Safe Sports Checklist Athletes
DownloadSize 628.28 KB
Safe Sports Checklist for Parents - Spanish
DownloadSize 762.2 KB
Safe Sports Checklist for Parents
DownloadSize 748.42 KB
Sports Safety Changing the Culture of Concussion Infographics
DownloadSize 5.69 MB
Sports Safety Infographic
DownloadSize 755.42 KB
Sports Safety Tip Sheet
DownloadSize 477.88 KB
Download First Aid Activities
AED First Aid Guide for Untrained Personnel
DownloadSize 669.82 KB
First Aid for Burns_poster_burns
DownloadSize 454.76 KB
First Aid Guide for Adult Resuscitation
DownloadSize 233.04 KB
First Aid Guide for Burns-poster-burns-v3
DownloadSize 183.77 KB
First Aid Guide for Chemical Spills
DownloadSize 439.91 KB
First Aid Guide for Computer User
DownloadSize 279.86 KB
First Aid Guide for Constructions
DownloadSize 316.7 KB
First Aid Guide for CPR & AED Defibrillatio
DownloadSize 294.2 KB
First Aid Guide for Electrical Shock
DownloadSize 145.73 KB
First Aid Guide for External Bleeding
DownloadSize 470.47 KB
First Aid Guide for Eye Injury
DownloadSize 200.28 KB
Workplace First Aid Visual Guide
DownloadSize 364.73 KB
Wikijunior First Aid eBook on all Topics
DownloadSize 6.93 MB
Download Adventure Activity Resources
A National Park Service Index 2012-2016
HOTDownloadSize 6.24 MB
All Seasons Safety Activity Book
DownloadSize 8.45 MB
An Overview of Nature eBook
DownloadSize 43.9 MB
Book of Stuff To Do
DownloadSize 3.28 MB
Environmental Games and Activities
DownloadSize 3.4 MB
Spend Time in Nature Parent Guide
DownloadSize 375.16 KB
History of the National Park Service from Wikipedia
DownloadSize 1.05 MB
History of Women In the National Park Service
DownloadSize 538.42 KB
Leave No Trace Activity Playbook
DownloadSize 12.41 MB
Do Not Feed Wildlife Poster
DownloadSize 225.98 KB
Finding My Forest Tools to Re-connect with Nature Education Activity Guide
DownloadSize 3.54 MB
Download Bicycle 101 Activities and Resources
All-in-one Bicycle 101 Fun Learning Activity Book
DownloadSize 16.6 MB
Bicycle Safety Rap Song
DownloadSize 667.65 KB
Bicycle Safety Bookmark
DownloadSize 457.92 KB
Bicycle Safety Hand Signals Handout Sheet with Images
DownloadSize 2.05 MB
Bicycle Safety Helmet Head Poster
DownloadSize 1.64 MB
Fun Bicycle Learning Safety Flash Cards
DownloadSize 505.47 KB
Sarah's Bike Ride is Safe and Smart
DownloadSize 211.11 KB
Sprocket Man Bicycle Safety in a Comic Book
DownloadSize 1.46 MB
Bicycle Safety Activity Kit
DownloadSize 8.21 MB
Helmet Activity Sheet Sticker Art
DownloadSize 332.81 KB
Enjoy the Ride - Safe Kids
DownloadSize 3.15 MB
Download Bicycle 101 Activity Sheets
Bicycle Safety Bingo Sheets
DownloadSize 5.75 MB
Bicycle Safety Memory Puzzle Activity Sheets
DownloadSize 806.41 KB
Paul's Bicycle Safety Maze Activity Sheet
DownloadSize 304.01 KB
Bicycle Safety Helmet Activity Sheet Sticker Art
DownloadSize 332.81 KB
Bicycle Safety Helmet Activity Sheet Sticker Art
DownloadSize 332.81 KB
Download Bicycle 101 Ages 4-7 Activities
Answer Key ages 4-7 Bicycle 101 Activities
DownloadSize 1.29 MB
Arrange Safety Steps ages 4-7 Bicycle 101 Activities
DownloadSize 140 KB
Color the Signs ages 4-7 Bicycle 101 Activities
DownloadSize 137.7 KB
Colors of Safety ages 4-7 Bicycle 101 Activities
DownloadSize 231.65 KB
Complete the Safety Lesson ages 4-7 Bicycle 101 Activities
DownloadSize 259.06 KB
Connect the Dots ages 4-7 Bicycle 101 Activities
DownloadSize 102.59 KB
Decorate the Helmet ages 4-7 Bicycle 101 Activities
DownloadSize 178.23 KB
Safety Basics ages 4-7 Bicycle 101 Activities
DownloadSize 98.09 KB
Word Find ages 4-7 Bicycle 101 Activities
DownloadSize 136.42 KB
Download Bicycle 101 Ages 8-11 Activities
Answer Key ages 8-11 Bicycle 101 Activities
DownloadSize 558.53 KB
Closest Route ages 8-11 Bicycle 101 Activities
DownloadSize 176.99 KB
Connect the Dots ages 8-11 Bicycle 101 Activities
DownloadSize 189.37 KB
Crossword Puzzle ages 8-11 Bicycle 101 Activities
DownloadSize 130.66 KB
Draw A Map ages 8-11 Bicycle 101 Activities
DownloadSize 110.16 KB
Find the Safety Message ages 8-11 Bicycle 101 Activities
DownloadSize 202.21 KB
Safety Draw Scene ages 8-11 Bicycle 101 Activities
DownloadSize 114.83 KB
Word Find ages 8-11 Bicycle 101 Activities
DownloadSize 121.01 KB
Word Scramble ages 8-11 Bicycle 101 Activities
DownloadSize 120.92 KB
Video Playlist: Sports Safety 101
