I’m a teacher at the high school level with a chance to coach girl’s volleyball. I’ve heard that knee injuries are a big problem right now in girl’s athletics. I don’t remember that when I played. Just how common is this?

Not all girls’ sports are affected equally by knee injuries. Any activity with pivoting and jumping puts girls at increased risk for injury. This is especially true for basketball, soccer, and volleyball.

Before adolescence, girls and boys have an equal amount of ligament sprains. Girls have a higher rate right after a growth spurt. Middle school and high school aged female athletes have four to six times the number of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries compared to boys of the same age.

Untrained girls have the highest rates of ACL trauma. Since increases in growth can’t be stopped, researchers say our focus should be on training. As you head into your new coaching position, learn all you can about this key feature in preventing knee injuries.