RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Incidence of sporting injury in New Zealand youths aged 6-15 years. JF British Journal of Sports Medicine JO Br J Sports Med FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine SP 49 OP 52 DO 10.1136/bjsm.32.1.49 VO 32 IS 1 A1 R G Pringle A1 P McNair A1 S Stanley YR 1998 UL http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/32/1/49.abstract AB OBJECTIVE: To document the incidence of injury in 6-15 year olds playing rugby union, rugby league, and netball, and to identify the common mechanisms, sites, severity, and time of injury. METHODS: Cross sectional data were collected by trained observers who watched 258 games of rugby union, netball, and rugby league over a four week period. The condition of the injured participants was monitored until recovery. RESULTS: In total, 5174 players were observed and an injury rate of 18 per 1000 player hours was calculated. Of all observed injuries, 29% required some form of medical treatment. A significant difference (p<0.05) in the distribution of injury over the four quarters of the games was recorded, most occurring in the first three quarters. In total, 81% of the injuries were classified as contact injuries, and these mainly occurred through direct contact with the opposition. Of all observed injuries, 27% were recurrent. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of injury in rugby union, netball, and rugby league is low for children aged between 6 and 15 years relative to adult rates.