Whether playing competitively or just in the backyard, volleyball is a fun sport for players of all ages and skill levels. The only downside is that like other sports, volleyball does come with a risk of injury.

Given the nature of the game, the most common volleyball injuries likely aren’t hard to guess: shoulder overuse, finger fractures, and sprained ankles top the list.

While volleyball injuries are more common in competitive players, even a casual player can get hurt due to an accident, poor technique or lack of conditioning. Younger players are especially prone to injury.

It’s not a myth: Running is tough on your knees. Whether you’re a newbie starting a couch-to-5K program or you’re a veteran ultra-marathoner, it’s likely that at some point in your running journey you’ve experienced knee pain that has brought you to a halt.

Soccer fever is in high gear this summer. A new generation of U.S. women’s soccer players triumphed at the FIFA World Cup in July, commanding the attention of young athletes everywhere and inspiring them with their grit, fearlessness, and star power.

Playing sports in middle school or high school can have so many positive benefits. There’s the physical benefits of being an athlete, but then there are all of the character-building values that come with being on a team: boosting self-esteem, learning how to be a team player, handling losses while being a good sport, the value of hard work and discipline, and more.

Of all the players on a baseball field, pitchers tend to be more susceptible to upper body injuries. The immense pressure of the repetitive throwing motion can wreak havoc on their elbows and shoulders. And as competition increases it’s no surprise that pitching injuries are on the rise—as pitchers are throwing harder, faster, and younger than ever before.

At the bottom of the ninth, with two outs and a full count, all eyes are on the pitcher. Will they make a winning pitch? If they’ve been overusing their pitching arm, not getting enough rest, or using a radar gun, they may not be able to perform at the top of their game. Pitching injuries are on the rise in young athletes, and the best treatment for shoulder and elbow injuries is prevention.

Odds are if you’re a baseball fan, you likely have a favorite pitcher. Watching a pitcher wind up, check the bases, and hurtle a ball toward home plate can be captivating. And if you’re the one pitching, it can feel even more exhilarating.

Track and field. Football. Baseball. Swimming. Volleyball. Basketball. Sports are some of the time-honored pastimes of youth. They give children something fun to do outside of school, help them build confidence, teach them about teamwork and encourage them to build a network of friends.

Playing a sport can be so fulfilling — physically and mentally — but they also come with a risk of injury. Even if you take care to prevent injuries on the court, field, track or otherwise, unexpected events can occur.

Overuse injuries might sound like something only professional athletes get, but they can affect anyone who plays sports, including youth.