Restrictions on Contact Sports
In most cases, if a child has to avoid playing sports, it is only contact sports that they have to avoid. And while most parents can easily recognize sports like football and hockey as contact sports, some others are more surprising.
If your child is not supposed to play contact sports or collision sports, then he should likely avoid:
BasketballBoxingCheerleadingDivingDownhill skiingField HockeyGymnasticsTackle FootballIce HockeyLacrosseMartial ArtsRodeoRugbySki JumpingSnowboardingSoccerTeam HandballUltimate FrisbeeWater PoloWrestling
In some circumstances, you may also need to avoid other limited contact sports, such as:
BaseballBicyclingCheerleadingWhite Water Canoeing or KayakingFencingField Events, Such as High Jump and Pole VaultFloor HockeyFlag FootballGymnasticsHandballHorseback RidingRacquetballIce SkatingIn-Line Roller SkatingDownhill SkiingCross-Country SkiingWater SkiingWeighliftingSkateboardingSnowboardingSoftballSquashUltimate FrisbeeVolleyballWindsurfingSurfing
One Kidney Sports Restrictions
If a child is born with a single or solitary kidney or if he has one kidney removed, then he will likely need to take steps to avoid injuring the remaining kidney. And this usually means avoiding contact sports, especially heavy contact sports.
Although the National Kidney Foundation states that the limitation might also include heavy contact or collision sports, including “boxing, field hockey, football, ice hockey, lacrosse, martial arts, rodeo, soccer and wrestling,” the American Academy of Pediatrics states that children with a solitary kidney need “individual assessment for contact, collision, and limited-contact sports” before they participate.
Keep in mind that the risk of injury to a solitary kidney can depend on whether the kidney is healthy, enlarged, out of position, etc. and that children are sometimes allowed to play contact sports if everyone understands the risks, especially if the child wears protective pads and the sport can be modified to be safer for the child.
Mono Sports Restrictions
Children with mono and an enlarged spleen, which can rupture, are supposed to “avoid all sports” according to the AAP.
Sports Restrictions and Other Medical Conditions
There are many other medical conditions that can limit a child’s participation in sports. However, there are few one size fits all rules and so you might talk with a specialist about whether or not your child with a medical problem can play a certain sport. The AAP states that the level of competition, availability of protective equipment if the sport can be modified, etc., can all help determine if a child can play.
Some other chronic medical conditions that may limit (or modify) a child’s participation in sports can include:
Atlantoaxial instability Bleeding disorder, such as hemophilia Cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure, congenital heart disease, irregular heart rhythms, and non-innocent heart murmurs Cerebral palsy Diabetes mellitus Functionally one-eyed athletes Enlarged Liver Malignant neoplasm (cancer) Musculoskeletal disorders Neurologic disorders, including a history of head trauma, spine trauma, or poorly controlled seizures Obesity Organ transplant recipient Respiratory conditions, such as cystic fibrosis and asthma Sickle cell disease Sickle cell trait Undescended or Absent Testicle (the child may need to wear a protective cup)
In general, if your child has a chronic medical condition, talk to your pediatrician or Pediatric Specialist before starting a new sport.
Noncontact Sports
According to the AAP, noncontact sports include:
ArcheryBadmintonBodybuildingBowlingCanoeing or kayaking (flat water)Crew or rowingCurlingDancing, including Ballet, Modern, Jazz, etc. Field events, including Discus, Javelin, Shot putGolfOrienteeringPowerliftingRace walkingRifleryRope jumpingRunningSailingScuba divingSwimmingTable tennisTennisTrack
