ore than 3.5 million U.S. children ages 14 and younger suffer a sportsor recreation-related injury each year.

Children and young adults are growing and developing coordination, so they may be more prone to injury than older adults. And as the popularity of sports grows, more children risk injury — especially girls.

It’s vital to a child’s health to stay active, but you can reduce your child’s risk of getting hurt. Here are some tips to ensure a safe and fun sports experience:

• Go for a physical. All children should have an annual physical before joining any sport.
• Wear the right safety gear. Those who ride skateboards or scooters, for instance, need wrist guards as well as helmets and knee pads, because children often hurt their wrists by reaching out to break a fall.
• Ensure that safety gear fits properly. An oversized helmet can make it hard to see and may be more dangerous than no helmet at all.
• Keep competitors comparable. In organized sports, your child should have teammates and opponents at similar stages of physical development.
• Know whom to call. Make sure coaches and supervisors know basic first aid and emergency telephone numbers in the event of a serious injury.
• Stay hydrated. Children should get enough to drink. Dehydration can lead to heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
• Don’t overdo it. Children should get proper rest and avoid overexertion. Baseball, basketball, running, gymnastics and swimming cause the most overuse injuries in youngsters.
• Add a variety of sports. Participating in a variety of activities may be best, says Dr. Philip Wilson, an orthopedic surgeon on the medical staff at Children’s Medical Center. “Year-round single-sport training can result in repetitive injury of immature musculoskeletal structures.”
• Train to prevent injury. Functional strength and coordination training may prevent knee and ankle injuries. This may be particularly important for girls in running and cutting sports such as basketball, Dr. Wilson says.
• Above all, keep sports fun. Dr. Wilson warns parents not to put pressure on their children to perform. “Making a situation superc-ompetitive is not the way to go,” he says. “If you put children in aggressive single-sport training when they are not developmentally ready, you can increase the risk for injury. Encourage a variety of sports and provide positive, low-pressure support for activities they enjoy.”