Commotio cordis due to blunt trauma to the precordium is a rare cause of death 
in young athletes, occurring less frequently than all of the other 
athletics-related deaths. Several measures, such as the use of safety baseballs 
and the use of chest protectors, can help protect young athletes from commotio 
cordis. In general, sudden cardiac death in athletes is receiving increasing 
attention from the public as a result of recent deaths of high-profile athletes. 
Sudden cardiac death, however, is rare, with an estimated 1 out of 200,000 high 
school athletes at risk each year. However, the personal, physiological, and 
cardiovascular benefits of athletics far outweigh the risks. Therefore, the 
message to parents is to allow their children to participate in athletics 
because the benefits far outweigh the risks.