Youth sports attract scores of participants each year. The National Council of Youth Sports estimates that around 60 million children are registered to play youth sports in the United States.

The benefits to sports play are numerous, but the advantages to being active and competitive should not overshadow the need to be safe during sports play. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 2.7 million young people are treated in the emergency room every year for sports-related injuries.

Parents, coaches and other adults working and volunteering in youth sports must learn to recognize signs that a player has become injured and address those injuries as soon as possible. It can be hard to spot certain sports injuries. The following are some sports injuries and their symptoms.

ACL tears: Anterior cruciate ligament injuries occur when the ligament connecting the thigh bone and the shin bone tears after an athlete suddenly turns and changes direction, which is common in many sports. Pain is often immediate when suffering a torn ACL, and swelling can occur within several hours of being injured. The child may express that they heard or felt a pop in the knee area and are having trouble supporting their weight.

Ankle sprain: When the ankle twists or the foot rolls on its side, the ligaments that support the ankle joint can stretch and tear. Swelling and pain usually occur on the outside of the ankle within minutes to a few hours of the injury, depending on injury severity. Because it may be impossible to differentiate an ankle sprain from an ankle fracture without an x-ray, particularly if the pain in the ankle makes putting weight on it unlikely, a visit to an orthopedic doctor may be necessary.

Concussion: Any activity that can cause an injury to the head may lead to a concussion. A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury that occurs when the brain is shaken or hit. It can cause temporary changes in brain function. The American Academy of Pediatrics says signs of a concussion can include an athlete who appears dazed or stunned. There may be confusion and the youth could move clumsily and answer questions slowly. An inability to recall events before or after the head trauma, or losing consciousness even briefly, are additional signs of concussion. In older children and teens, nausea, vomiting, balance problems, light sensitivity, and headache also can occur.

Broken bones: Bone fractures often happen during collisions with other players or from falls. Sometimes a fracture is obvious, but not always. A snap or grinding sound at the time of injury often signals a fracture, says VCU Health. If there’s a break in the skin and the bone is showing, or the athlete cannot bear weight or use the extremity after 15 minutes, an X-ray is likely.

Growth plate injuries: Growth plates are soft cartilage at the end of bones like the arms, legs and fingers that are replaced by strong bones as children get older and stop growing. Growth plates are more susceptible to injury than the rest of the bone. A fracture may not be readily visible in a growth plate, but doctors can look for other signs. The Mayo Clinic says pain and tenderness and an inability to move the affected area or put weight or pressure on the limb are signs of a growth plate injury. It’s important to note that growth plate fractures occasionally can be caused by overuse from repetitive throwing or during sports training.

Internal abdominal injuries: Internal injuries are less common than other sports injuries, but Stanford Medicine Children’s Health says some studies suggest they are on the rise. Injuries to the kidneys, spleen and liver can occur. These injuries can produce pain in the abdomen. The spleen is in the upper left side of the abdomen. The liver is in the upper right side. The kidneys are on the flanks of the body. Blood in urine may be a sign of internal abdominal injury and needs to be addressed promptly.

Young athletes should be encouraged to participate in sports, but adults should be mindful of common sports injuries and learn how to spot them.