Sports & Injury Tip Sheets
The STOP Sports Injuries program is designed to help keep young athletes safe, healthy and in the game. Expert providers from across the field have developed a series of tip sheets geared toward athletes, parents and families, coaches, and the entire sports medicine team. View them by category or see all tip sheets alphabetically.
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History
Several years ago, the AOSSM Board - including then-STOP Sports Injuries co-campaign chair and renowned orthopaedic surgeon James R. Andrews, MD - identified overuse injuries in young athletes as a critical issue. In response, STOP Sports Injuries resources were developed by AOSSM, with support from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Athletic Trainers' Association, the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, SAFE Kids USA, the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America and the Sports Physical Therapy Section.
Youth Sports Injuries: A Preventable Epidemic
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies youth sports injuries as a growing epidemic, with approximately 3.5 million injuries occurring each year in the United States. In fact, one in three young athletes seeks medical care annually for a sports-related injury, often leading to missed time from school and athletic participation. The good news? According to the CDC, over half of these injuries are preventable with the right education and proactive measures.
What is STOP Sports Injuries?
The STOP (Sports Trauma and Overuse Prevention) Sports Injuries campaign, developed by AOSSM, is designed to combat the rise of overuse injuries in young athletes. As sports medicine professionals, we are committed to equipping communities with the knowledge and tools needed to keep athletes safe and healthy.
The STOP program provides practical injury prevention tips, educational resources, and sport-specific guidance for athletes, coaches, parents, athletic trainers, and healthcare providers. Its resources cover everything from proper training and injury recognition to initial treatment and safe return-to-play practices.
How STOP Supports Communities and Coaches
For Local Communities:
- Education: STOP offers educational materials to help parents, coaches, and athletes understand injury risks and learn effective prevention strategies.
- Promoting Safe Play: Local sports leagues can integrate STOP guidelines to emphasize warm-ups, cooldowns, proper hydration, and regulated playing time.
- Injury Reporting: STOP resources encourage timely injury reporting and provide clear protocols for safe return-to-play procedures.
For Coaches:
- Coaching Education: STOP equips coaches with evidence-based tools to recognize, prevent, and manage sports injuries effectively.
- Safe Training Practices: Incorporate STOP’s warm-up and cooldown routines, hydration guidelines, and workload limits into regular training.
- Injury Management: Use STOP’s injury reporting and return-to-play protocols to ensure athletes recover fully before resuming play.
Why STOP Matters
By using STOP’s resources, communities and coaches can create safer sports environments, reduce preventable injuries, and keep young athletes in the game—both on the field and in the classroom. Together, we can prioritize athlete safety and foster a healthier future for youth sports.
Physician Playbook
AOSSM is partnering with physician practices and sports medicine providers across the country to help you answer your patients’ frequent questions about preventing and treating common sports injuries. This “Playbook” contains materials to help you point patients to the tip sheets above quickly and easily, whether in-office, on your website or social media, or in your community. If you require additional images or sizes or have any questions, please email us at info@aossm.org.
Digital Resources
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| Office Poster | PowerPoint |
| STOP_Pitching_Poster | STOP_Pitching_Slide |
| STOP_Racer_Poster | STOP_Racer_Slide |
| STOP_Tennis_Poster | STOP_Tennis_Slide |
Social Media
AOSSM is on Instagram, Facebook and X at @aossm1972. Download these resources and be sure to tag AOSSM on social media! We will rotate the graphics seasonally, so check back often!
Download/post from:
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| STOP_Pitching_Insta | STOP_Pitching_FB | STOP_Pitching_X |
| STOP_Racer_Insta | STOP Racer X | STOP Racer X |
| STOP_Tennis_Insta | STOP_Tennis_FB | STOP_Tennis_X |
