Government agencies, public health organisations and the private sector are increasingly funding campaigns to encourage participation in sport. These campaigns frequently achieve moderate levels of success,1 yet many of the individuals who heed these calls to action may be ill prepared for the physical rigours of sport, especially when campaigns do not address how to participate in sport safely. This is not an idle concern; individuals with limited experience in their sport of choice are at increased risk of developing a sports injury, as are those who have recently returned to sport after a prolonged absence.2 Public health campaigns aimed at encouraging sport participation should therefore take into account the findings from the sports injury prevention literature so that those who adopt the campaign messages will be less susceptible to experiencing sports injuries.