Abstract

Athletics are an integral part of the educational program at almost every school level, and have had a phenomenal development in number and diversity duringthe last 25 years. There is general agreement among educators today on the potential value of athletics. With this growing interest however, it becomes apparent that more consideration must be given to the safety of the participants. Hard data upon which to implement sound countermeasures to protect the student athlete are available now trough epidemiologic methods of descriptive research. The North Carolina study indicates which manufacturers protective equipment is associated with the highest injury rates, and those responsible for the purchase of equipment - physicians, coaches, and administrators - should be aware of these data and demand safer equipment. it has been shown that certain causal agents are associated with football injuries, and that certain variables have more influence on injuries than others. it is also evident that knee and ankle injuries can be significantlyreduced by having all participants wear soccer shoes and by having these same participants performing on well-maintained fields. The results are clear. All that needs to be done now is to implement these findings in the schools. Verf.-Referat