Playing sports is an emotional, mental and physical adventure. You have the opportunity to learn what you're made of and to determine if you're a team player or a maverick. And, as with any adventure, there are risks involved; but experts agree that the advantages are worth it.

Collegiate and international fast pitch softball competitions have strict rules governing all aspects of the game, including pitching. Softball pitchers must keep their rear pivot foot in contact with the pitching plate until the ball is released.

Whether you're boxing, kickboxing or just burning calories on the heavy bag in your basement, your knuckles, hands and wrists are always at risk for injury when you punch. You can minimize this risk by performing exercises to strengthen your wrists.

On the floor and the beam, gymnastics jumps are about height, flexibility, extension, form and speed. While the floor and the beam have some spring action, most of the height actually comes from the gymnast’s power.

Your tailbone, also known as the coccyx, is a triangular shape bone located at the base of your spine. Fracturing the tailbone is a common injury in snowboarding because even the most experienced snowboarder has a high-impact fall on the rear from time to time.

Because football is such a high impact and physically taxing sport, you can easily injure yourself while throwing a football. Arm pain can come from many training errors and conditions, some that require a doctor's treatment.

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, meniscus tears are among the most common knee injuries. A torn meniscus occurs as a result of contact sports, during squatting or from twisting your knee.

Swimming is fun, and it provides a multitude of mental and physical benefits. Swimming is the second most popular sport in the United States, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Kids love to swim at the pool or the beach but this healthful activity is not just for children.

With all of the force behind each punch, a boxer's hands and wrists can take a beating. This is especially true if the boxer fails to use proper form when punching or does not wrap his wrists adequately before a fight or working on the heavy bag.

If your knee pops when you're riding a bike, it is a sign of two possible conditions. One is an overuse syndrome caused by the repetitive load you place on the knee with every pedal stroke -- the constant pounding can cause the kneecap to come off its track.

There is no sound in golf quite as satisfying as the solid thwack of the ball fully compressed against the clubface. Unfortunately, you won’t hear that sound if you make contact off the toe of the club. Even worse, you'll also lose power and accuracy.

You might think of soccer as a summertime sport, but leagues can extend into the colder months. To play your best game, you need to stay warm, keeping your muscles loose and reducing the possibility of injury. The key to keeping warm is dressing for the cold weather.