Athletics More Dangerous Than Many Realize

By Dov Brown ‘27
Sports are a major aspect of people’s lives since they bring excitement, health benefits, and competition to both players and fans. Most sports however carry dangerous risks including short and long-term injuries. Some common sports in North America that seem like fun games are in reality much more dangerous than they appear. Some of the most dangerous sports include very popular choices such as basketball, American football and hockey. 

Although basketball seems like a relatively safe sport at first glance, it contains a lot of injuries that are not so clear on the surface. Rapid movement, frequent jumping, and physical contact make injuries common. Some injuries that commonly appear in basketball include sprained ankles, knee injuries and overuse injuries like tendonitis. While the sport is mostly non-contact the players can get injured in many ways like setting screens, grabbing rebounds and driving to the rim. The most common injuries that a player can get are concussions or fractures. 
Basketball is also a sport that involves a lot of repetition which can take a toll on a player. The repetition of sprinting and jumping can cause chronic injuries over time such as shin splints or stress fractures. 8th grader Eyal Suskauer says “I notice them strain every once in a while as they come back down from a big jump or drive”. These are just some examples of hidden injuries that a seemingly non-contact sport may contain and some of these injuries can be long-term and possibly career-ending. While basketball might lack some of the physicality that hockey or American football might contain it can still cause many injuries.
Hockey is another sport containing lots of potential injuries except this time it is much more obvious. The high-speed skating on the ice and the sharp blades and sticks create a dangerous environment. The fast game and high intensity make hockey one of the most dangerous sports. 
Injuries are a main part of hockey as the players are encouraged to play a physical game of checking each other into walls and on the open ice. Sophomore Jude Ornstein says “Every time a player gets checked I think they might get an injury but they somehow just instantly start skating again”. While they do often skate it off dangerous injuries such as concussions, fractures and lacerations are still common. The speed at which the players skate averages over 15 mph which causes an increased risk of injury. The most dangerous part of the sport however is the fights as they are a longstanding tradition that is also permitted and encouraged. 
The players' skates also cause a surprisingly dangerous addition to the game. The blades that these players wear can tear right through the skin and can cause deep cuts and often more hazardous injuries too. While other players might cause injuries it is also common that a player might slip or fall which can send them onto the boards or the floor allowing them to break or fracture bones. 
Modern-day hockey associations attempt to solve these dangers through the implementation of mandatory helmets, face shields and protective padding. These attempts to keep players safe are helpful however they do not fully eliminate the risks as there are some weak spots in the player’s protection. The risks are also increased by the physical nature of hockey meaning that injury is almost inevitable, especially in bigger leagues. 
The last and most dangerous sport is American football. The risks in this sport are unparalleled due to its high-impact nature. Players often face relentless collisions at full speed causing many injuries. 
Football is notorious for concussions, broken bones, and ligament tears. The long-term risks of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain condition linked to repeated head trauma, raise serious concerns. The combination of speed, force, and physical contact makes the chance of serious injury in a player’s career almost unavoidable.
While advances in protective gear like helmets and padding have reduced risks, the aggressive nature of the sport and the sheer volume of impacts during a game ensure football remains one of the riskiest sports for players.
Between these three sports, American football retains its title as the most dangerous sport. Hockey is a close contender due to the added risks of high-speed collisions and sharp equipment, but long-term neurological risks and the systemic trauma in football outweigh hockey’s physical intensity.
While basketball is physically demanding and injury-prone, it does not carry the same level of immediate or long-term risk as the other two. Hockey’s risks tend to focus more on acute injuries, while football combines acute dangers with significant chronic concerns, such as CTE.