What Sport Has The Most Concussions?

Updated April 8, 2025

Concussions can happen anywhere, but when it comes to sports, some activities carry significantly higher risks than others. As awareness and understanding of concussion injuries continue to evolve, it becomes increasingly important for athletes, coaches, parents, and healthcare professionals to understand which sports present the greatest danger and what can be done to prevent and manage these injuries effectively.

This article breaks down the latest evidence on concussion rates across different sports, why certain athletes are more vulnerable, and how you can access the best tools and training to keep your athletes safe.

Which Sports Have the Highest Concussion Rates?

📊 Summary Chart: Top Sports by Concussion Rate (Per 1,000 Athlete Exposures)

1. Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)

Cage. Two fighters are fighting. Punches. Sport action concept. Emotions of winner. Octagon. 3D

Mixed Martial Arts holds the highest reported concussion rate among organized sports. A study by Hutchison et al. (2014) found that 147 concussions occur per 1,000 athlete exposures — meaning nearly 1 in 7 fights results in a concussion (1).

2. Australian Rules Football

Roswell, GA, USA – May 17, 2014: A player reaches to catch the ball on the run in an amateur club game of Australian Rules Football in a Roswell city park.

Makdissi et al. (2014) report that Aussie Rules Football shows an incidence of 9.53 concussions per 1,000 athlete exposures, making it the highest-risk team sport in many contexts (2).

3. Rugby

The battle begins (iStock)

A systematic review by Gardner et al. (2014) reported 4.73 concussions per 1,000 athlete exposures in men’s rugby union match play, while a study by Rafferty et al. (2019) reported up to 9.05 per 1,000 exposures in elite English Premiership Rugby (4).

4. American Football

American Football Teams Start Game: Professional Players, Aggressive Face-off, Tackle, Pass, Fight for Ball and Score. Warrior Competition Full of Brutal Energy, Power, Skill.

In U.S. high school football, concussion rates vary: up to 5.01 per 1,000 athlete exposures in games. NCAA data also show that concussions represent 7.4% of all football injuries, with linemen and defensive players being most affected (5).

5. Ice Hockey

close-up with the puck during the game

In youth and collegiate levels, men’s ice hockey shows up to 1.63 concussions per 1,000 athlete exposures, while women’s hockey has been reported as high as 2.27 per 1,000 exposures (6).

6. Soccer (Football)

Soccer shows significant concussion risks—especially in female athletes. One study found 1.4 concussions per 1,000 athlete exposures in women’s soccer, and up to 0.83 in men’s soccer (7).

Why Female Athletes Are More at Risk

In sex-comparable sports like soccer and basketball, studies show that female athletes sustain significantly more concussions. Potential reasons include neck strength differences, hormonal influences, and underreporting in male athletes (8).

This highlights the urgent need for standardized baseline testing and evidence-based return-to-play protocols—especially for youth athletes. Book a baseline test today at one of our certified clinics.

Sports with Unexpectedly High Concussion Rates

• Cheerleading: A 2019 study by Kerr et al. found cheerleading accounted for a surprising share of concussion-related ER visits, particularly due to falls during stunts (9).
• Horseback Riding: Falls from height and high-speed impacts can result in severe TBIs. Rates in some cohorts exceed 1.8 per 1,000 athlete exposures.
• Snowboarding & Skiing: Pediatric head injuries from skiing and snowboarding have risen, with concussion being among the top diagnoses in snow sport ER visits.

Even in non-contact sports, falls, whiplash injuries, or equipment collisions can result in concussions. This underscores the importance of having robust sideline concussion protocols and baseline data—tools available via our concussion software platform for sports and schools.

How to Reduce the Risk: What Coaches, Schools, and Clinics Can Do

1. Implement Education & Awareness Programs
   • Athletes need to know how to recognize and report symptoms.
   • Coaches must understand proper removal-from-play protocols –> Get concussion training for coaches and teachers.
2. Baseline Testing & Real-Time Reporting
   • Baseline testing allows clinicians to assess true recovery.
   • Schools and sports organizations can streamline injury management with the Complete Concussions Software.
3. Train Your Team
   • If you’re a rehab or medical professional, our free 90-minute concussion workshop is a great place to start.
   • Looking to go deeper? Explore our full suite of concussion training programs tailored to your professional designation.

Final Thoughts

Knowing which sports carry the greatest risk of concussion helps athletes, parents, and professionals make informed decisions and implement proactive safety measures. But awareness is just the first step. Equipping your team or clinic with the right tools, software, and training ensures you’re not just reacting to concussions—you’re preventing long-term problems before they start.

Whether you’re a school administrator, medical provider, or coach, it’s time to raise your game. Use the latest evidence. Protect your athletes. And when in doubt—test, track, and treat.

Book a Baseline Test | Get the Software | Free Workshop for Rehab Pros | Advanced Training for Clinicians | Training for Coaches & Teachers

References

1. Hutchison MG, Lawrence DW, Cusimano MD, Schweizer TA. Head trauma in mixed martial arts. Am J Sports Med. 2014;42(6):1352–8.
2. Makdissi M, Davis G, McCrory P. Updated guidelines for the management of sports-related concussion in Australian football. J Sci Med Sport. 2014;17(6):511–3.
3. Gardner AJ, Iverson GL, Levi CR, et al. A systematic review and meta-analysis of concussion in rugby union. Sports Med. 2014;44(12):1717–31.
4. Rafferty J, Ranson C, Oatley G, Mostafa M, Mathema P, Crick T, et al. On average, a professional rugby union player is more likely than not to sustain a concussion after 25 matches. Br J Sports Med. 2019;53(15):969–73.
5. Kerr ZY, Collins CL, Comstock RD. Epidemiology of football injuries among youth, high school, and collegiate players. J Athl Train. 2011;46(2):152–9.
6. Dick R, Agel J, Marshall SW. National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance System. J Athl Train. 2007;42(2):173–82.
7. Bretzin AC, Covassin T, Fox ME, et al. Sex differences in concussion rates and recovery among collegiate soccer players. J Athl Train. 2021;56(1):19–27.
8. Cheng J, Bastien J, Collins CL, et al. Epidemiology of concussions among United States high school athletes in 20 sports. Am J Sports Med. 2019;47(5):1134–42.
9. Kerr ZY, Lynall RC, Roos KG, et al. Injury epidemiology of cheerleading: A 20-year analysis. J Athl Train. 2019;54(10):1037–43.