Young athletes benefit from participating in decision making about whether to participate in contact sports.

It is unclear whether the decreased risk of injury associated with prohibiting a teenage boy from playing football outweighs the benefits to his health and well-being of allowing him to participate.

Physicians should attempt to monitor the training schedules of adolescent athletes to help ensure a balance between academics, friends, and sports.

Physicians should attempt to monitor the training schedules of adolescent athletes to help ensure a balance between academics, friends, and sports.