Most athletes choose contact lenses because of the freedom they offer.  But many overlook the fact that contacts offer no protection from impact injuries.  Dr. Weinstock, MD of Canton, Ohio advises patients to consider the following when playing sports: 

Protect your eyes from the sun
Ultraviolet protection is critical for outdoor sports, especially skiing, windsurfing, etc.  He recommends safety goggles with ultraviolet protection.  The problem of fogging can be minimized with an antifogging solution. 

Wear shatter-resistant safety lenses
Those who wear frames with no lenses simply aren't getting adequate protection from injury.  Ball games such as racquetball, tennis, baseball, and basketball should be played with sport goggles with polycarbonate lenses.  Polycarbonate is a special material that is resistant to shattering on impact. 

Children need protection too
Children often have underdeveloped depth perception and may have difficulty judging the position of a flying ball.  It's not uncommon for a child to misjudge a ball in flight, miss it, and take a blow to the face instead.  Safety goggles are advised for children who play softball and baseball.

Avoid wearing contact lenses when swimming
Pools and hot tubs are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria.  Wearing contact lenses when swimming can increase the risk of infection.  Contact lenses should only be worn along with water-tight goggles.

The bottom line is:   clear vision does not exempt you from protective eye wear if you play contact sports.  It's simply not worth the risk.