These injuries have increased at an alarming rate in the last 25 years and include stress fractures, strains, sprains, tendonitis, torn cartilage, bursitis and shin splints. Overuse injuries are never seen in children when they are left to themselves. Just as no horse ever ran itself to death until there was a rider on its back, no child ever repeated a physical activity often enough to cause an injury before there was some structure to the activity. It doesn't have to happen. Overuse injuries are almost always preventable.
Growth appears to increase the chance of overuse injuries.
Because of the speed at which the bones grow, the muscles and tendons cannot keep up and so become tight. This causes a loss of flexibility and increases a child's chance of suffering an overuse injury. Be informed The best insurance against unnecessary injuries is to be well informed. Each sport has potential risks. Ask the coach what these risks are and how to protect against them.