Train Smart · Play Strong · Know Your Heart
Your heart.
Your game.
Your future.
Every athlete trains their body. Great athletes also understand their heart. Discover the science behind cardiovascular health, performance, and playing safely.
Schematic heart with animated blood flow · oxygen-rich / oxygen-poor
Why your heart matters
The engine behind every play
Delivers oxygen
Every beat pushes oxygen-rich blood from your lungs to working muscles, your brain, and your organs.
Clears waste
Blood carries carbon dioxide and other by-products away from muscles so they can keep working.
Powers recovery
After effort, circulation restores balance, cools you down, and supports repair between sessions.
Heart health and sports
What happens when you hit the field
- 01
Heart rate rises
Nerve signals and adrenaline speed up the heart to meet demand.
- 02
Circulation shifts
Vessels in working muscles widen; blood is redirected where it's needed.
- 03
Oxygen delivery climbs
Heart rate × blood per beat = cardiac output, which can rise several-fold.
- 04
Recovery follows
After you stop, heart rate falls quickly at first, then gradually.
Know the warning signs
Symptoms you should never ignore
If you notice any of these, stop the activity, tell a coach or parent, and get evaluated by a healthcare professional. If someone collapses, call 911.
See all warning signsChest pain or discomfort during exercise
Unexplained fainting or near-fainting
Unusual shortness of breath
Palpitations with concerning symptoms
Unexplained exercise intolerance
Family history of inherited heart conditions or sudden death
Interactive Heart Lab
Experiment. Explore. Understand.
- Heartbeat SimulatorWatch illustrative heart rates change from rest to a sprint.Open lab
- Blood Flow ExplorerFollow oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood, step by step.Open lab
- Exercise & Your HeartCompare the cardiovascular demands of eight sports.Open lab
- Recovery ExplorerAdjust intensity and see a simulated recovery curve.Open lab
- Myth vs. FactFlip the cards and bust common heart myths.Open lab
Athlete learning journey
Learn it. Try it. Prove it.
- Step 1ExploreLearn the chambers, valves, and vessels, and follow blood around the body.Explore your heart
- Step 2LearnTen athlete-health topics, each with an interactive tool and a knowledge check.Start the topics
- Step 3ExperimentFive hands-on simulations that make heart science visible.Enter the lab
- Step 4Prove itTake the Knowledge Challenge and the What Would You Do? scenarios.Take the quiz
Featured heart health facts
Numbers worth knowing
60+ min
of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity each day is recommended for kids and teens ages 6–17.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Child Activity: An Overview (opens in a new tab)8–10 hrs
of sleep per 24 hours is recommended for teens ages 13–17.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — About Sleep (opens in a new tab)100–120
chest compressions per minute is the recommended pace for Hands-Only CPR on a teen or adult.
Source: American Heart Association — What is CPR (opens in a new tab)Minutes
matter: sudden cardiac arrest can be fatal if not treated within minutes, so bystander CPR and AED use are critical.
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics — HealthyChildren.org — Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Young People (opens in a new tab)
Parent and coach resources
Support the athletes in your life
For parents & guardians
- Gather your family heart history
- Prepare for sports physicals
- Know which symptoms need a doctor
For coaches & trainers
- Build and rehearse an emergency action plan
- Make reporting symptoms the norm
- Know your AED locations