WebBall.com - Injury Risks & Safety Tips

The Dangers of Baseball

A note from WebBall's Head Coach:

In 1995 (about the time this website began), an estimated 6 million US children ages 5 to 14 participated in organized baseball, softball and tee-ball leagues, and 13 million children participated in non-league play (otherwise known as sandlot ball). In that year hospital emergency rooms in the US treated 162,100 players, age 5-14.

Since that time some changes have been made in rules & equipment, but that does not make the sport risk-free. I am pleased to see the adoption of Break-Away Bases by Little League. I am glad more leagues have face-guard rules in place for younger age divisions. But even with BESR (bat exit speed ratings) for alloy bats, and even with improvements in helmets, and the adoption of reduced-injury balls, there is still a risk to this game, like any sport. I have read of the death of a young player from a hit baseball (which is why WebBall no longer carries any alloy bats), and I have also seen other injuries that should have / could have been prevented.

The responsibility should not fall on the US Consumer Product Safety Commission which added up the numbers. It is up to each of us within our local leagues to ask the tough questions about safety for our young ballplayers. This is after all, just a game. It should not be a risk to life or limb.

But while the reports and numbers in this section may cause you to wonder if your child should even be in baseball. I will remind everyone that the alternative - a more sedentary life in which kids are less active, in which the juvenile obesity rate continues its rise - is not the solution. We need the sport; we just need it to be as safe as it can reasonably be.

- Richard Todd, WebBall

Here are just a few links on the topic of safety. Yes, much more information from many sources is freely available. And updated numbers continue to be published. But these should be enough to help you be aware of the risks and - fortunately - provide some insights on both safety measures and rehab.