Sports are a big part of growing up, especially in the southern United States. Football is one of the most widespread pastimes between the Mason-Dixon Line and the Gulf of Mexico, with every type of school offering students a chance to get caught up in some gridiron action.

Recent injuries have highlighted the need to review sports safety guidelines below the professional leagues. A student at a Tennessee university is in critical condition after a head injury during a league game. An earlier injury at a high school matchup in Georgia ended the life of an Atlanta-area athlete.

One high school football coach said that although the chances of a catastrophic injury in sports are very low, “the coaches’ greatest fears is your player getting injured in any way.” Many coaches in Tennessee and elsewhere are getting more involved in player safety, from better practices to more training focused on health.

Several schools drill their student-athletes differently now than in the 20th century. More information about the dynamics of sports injuries and the dangers of repetitive stress has changed many approaches, including less aggressive trainings and extra training about how to give and take a hit on the field.

The families of children affected by catastrophic injury while playing sports or in other situations may have a case for financial damages if someone else is responsible for the dangerous situation. An attorney can help guide a family through a difficult period of early recovery and make the best case possible for reimbursement of medical expenses and compensation for pain and emotional distress.