To promote safety in sports, what should children's teams ideally be matched on?

• A. Speed
• B. Gender
• C. Size and skill level
• D. Experience

Answer: (C)

The choice to match children's teams based on size and skill level is essential for promoting safety in sports. When teams are composed of players who are similar in size, the risk of injury during physical contact is reduced, as smaller players are less likely to be overpowered by larger opponents. Matching teams on skill level ensures that all players are competing in an environment that is appropriate for their abilities, which encourages participation and enjoyment while minimizing the chances of frustration or injury. This combination of size and skill level helps create a fair and balanced playing field, allowing children to develop their skills in a safe manner.

In contrast, while speed and experience can play roles in performance, they do not directly impact the immediate safety of players during gameplay in the same way that size and skill level do. Gender considerations can introduce additional complexities but are not typically as relevant to safety as the physical factors being considered. Matching based on these factors leads to a more equitable and safe sporting environment for children.