Evaluation of the benefits and risks of organized children's sports is difficult, but even play activities carry risks. The benefits of participation--eg, physical conditioning, accomplishment, and enjoyment--need to be weighed against the physical and/or psychological disadvantages. Social consciousness has been raised, studies are under way, and statistics are accumulating. Physicians, school and legislative advisers, and concerned parents all have a responsibility to promote safety, to provide appropriate care, and to prevent psychological harm.
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G Macdonald (1985) studied this question.
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