Can Kids and Teens With Asthma Play Sports? Sure! Kids and teens with asthma can play sports as long as their asthma is managed and under control. Being active, working out, and playing sports can help kids with asthma stay fit and maintain a healthy weight. It also can strengthen their breathing muscles to help the lungs work better. Which Sports Are Better for Kids With Asthma? Some sports and activities can be better choices for kids with asthma. Golf, yoga, and gentle biking are less likely to trigger asthma flare-ups. Sports like baseball, football, gymnastics, and shorter track and field events can be good choices too. Some sports can be challenging for kids with asthma. These include endurance sports like long-distance running or cycling or sports that demand a lot of energy without a lot of rest time (like soccer and basketball). Cold-weather sports like cross-country skiing or ice hockey also can be difficult. But that doesn't mean kids can't do these sports if they truly enjoy them. Many athletes with asthma have found that with proper training and the right dose and use of medicine, they can play any sport they want. How Can I Manage My Child's Asthma? To keep asthma under control, it's important that kids take their medicine as prescribed. Skipping long-term control medicine (also called controller or maintenance medicine) can make symptoms worse, and forgetting to take a prescribed medicine before exercise can lead to severe flare-ups and even ER visits. Your child should carry quick-relief medicine (also called rescue or fast-acting medicine) at all times, even during workouts, in case of a flare-up. It's also a good idea to keep triggers in mind. Depending on their triggers, kids with asthma may want to: Skip outdoor workouts when pollen or mold counts are high. Wear a scarf or ski mask when training outside during cold weather. Breathe through the nose instead of the mouth while exercising. Make sure they always have time for a careful warm-up and cool-down. These recommendations should be included in the asthma action plan you create with your child's doctor. What Else Should I Know? Tell the coach about your child's asthma and the asthma action plan. For a young child, you might want to give the coach a copy. Older kids should keep a copy with them, as well as any medicine that could be needed to treat a flare-up. Most important, your child and the coach need to know when your child should take a break from a practice or game to manage a flare-up before it becomes an emergency. Back to Articles Related Articles Asthma Center Visit our Asthma Center for information and advice on managing and living with asthma. Read More Asthma Center Asthma means breathing problems. Find out what's going on in the lungs and how to stay healthy, if you have it. Read More Dealing With Asthma Triggers Find out what can make your asthma worse, and what to do about it. Read More Exercise-Induced Asthma Some people have asthma symptoms only during or after exercise. This is called exercise-induced asthma. Get some tips for coping with it in this article. Read More What's an Asthma Action Plan? An asthma action plan is a written plan that helps you take control of your asthma. Get the details in this article. Read More Dealing With Asthma Triggers If you have asthma, certain things may cause you to cough and have trouble breathing. Find out more about asthma triggers in this article for kids. Read More Handling an Asthma Flare-Up How can you prepare for an asthma flare-up? Find out in this article for kids. Read More Exercise-Induced Asthma Many kids with asthma have symptoms when they exercise. But with careful management, they usually can do anything their peers can do. Read More Asthma Center Asthma keeps more kids home from school than any other chronic illness. Learn how to help your child manage the condition, stay healthy, and stay in school. Read More Dealing With an Asthma Flare-Up Asthma flare-ups, or attacks, can be handled, but it's even better if you can prevent them from happening. Find out how to deal with flare-ups. Read More Asthma Triggers Triggers — things in the air, weather conditions, or activities — can cause asthma flare-ups. By knowing and avoiding triggers, you'll help lessen your child's asthma symptoms. Read More Asthma: Exercise-Induced Asthma Factsheet (for Schools) What teachers and coaches should know about students with exercise-induced asthma (EIA). Read More Can the Weather Affect My Child's Asthma? Sometimes, the weather can affect a child's asthma symptoms. Here are some tips for dealing with it. Read More Can People With Asthma Play Sports? Sports and exercise are a good idea for people with asthma. But some activities are better than others - find out more. Read More Can the Weather Affect a Person's Asthma? The weather can affect your asthma symptoms. If you think weather may be triggering your asthma, here are some tips for dealing with it. Read More Word! Exercise-Induced Asthma Some people have asthma symptoms (such as coughing, wheezing, or trouble breathing) only when they're doing sports or being active. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.