You might want to ask some of the more than 200,000 young people under age 15 who are treated for basketball-related injuries in U.S. emergency rooms each year before you answer.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), basketball is the fourth leading cause of injury in both unorganized settings and organized community teams nationwide. Girls are injured more often than boys, and many injuries to girls are more serious.

The ankle and knee are the most common sites of basketball injury, followed by the back, hand and wrist. Eye injuries are also common, as a result of contact with a finger or elbow of an opponent. Fortunately, most basketball injuries are preventable.

The CDC recommends these measures:

More information

The Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh has some good ideas on helping children play basketball without getting injured.