Youth Athletics: Are the Risks Too Great?
Sport related injuries in young athletes continue to be on the rise. Are children and teenagers being encouraged to win at all costs? What can parents of young athletes do to keep their child or teenager from becoming another statistic?
Sport injuries among our children and teenagers are on the rise. Teenagers and children are giving their all to win for their team-but at what cost to their own health?
Knee ligament tears in childhood can cause osteoarthritis in adulthood.
Injuries such as torn ligaments, muscles, and tendons are becoming far more common in children under the age of twelve. Another injury we are hearing more about in student athletes are concussions. Multiple concussions can lead to brain injuries.
Are we pushing our kids too much?
Here are six suggestions to keep your young athlete healthy:
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Always take your child for a complete physical each year conducted by your own pediatrician
Often, sport physicals are provided by a team doctor. But receiving a physical from your regular pediatrician, who knows your child’s history, is best.
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An injury must heal
Do not allow your child to return to playing until the injury is completely healed. No matter how much your child tells you that they are well. Follow your doctor’s advice. Re-injury guarantees a longer recuperation and a far greater risk of problems later in life.
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Continually talk to your child about a love of the sport and the positive experience of being on a team
The focus should not be on winning. The focus should be on having fun and being healthy.
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Get to know the teachers and coaches that will work with your child
Ask them about their philosophy of coaching. A coach that wants to win at all costs is flying a red-flag.
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Make sure that your child does not overdue workouts and practices
Conditioning workouts should be performed gradually over time. Overdoing workouts will only lead to more injuries.
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Insist that your child speak honestly about a potential injury
Too often young athletes are afraid that if they complain about being hurt they will be benched and have to watch the rest of the season from the sidelines. But if they do not speak up, they could be watching the rest of the season from the sidelines in a cast.
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A physical therapist can provide valuable strength building exercises for injury rehabilitation
Many insurance plans provide several physical therapy sessions for injuries.
As the mother of a football and lacrosse player I know about shin splints, concussions, broken ankles, torn ligaments and broken collar bones. Injuries occur in winning and losing seasons. But teams that are used to winning always push their players to continue the victory streak.
Instead of pursuing another championship, youth sports should instead emphasize the positives of a healthy lifestyle and having fun as a team. The injuries sustained will heal only if given the right amount of time.
At some point we parents have to ask ourselves if the cost of having a winning team is really worth the risk.
Liked it
:) | May 12, 2008 | Reply
Liked it!
JK | May 12, 2008 | Reply
My daughter suffered through so many injuries as a young athlete and I too felt that it was not worth it.
MB | May 12, 2008 | Reply
Good advice!
Coach J | May 13, 2008 | Reply
Parents should not baby their children. Once they are in High School they should be encouraged (pushed) to compete especially when scouts are out to see them play. If we could legally pay them to play we would. All sports have a money aspect attached – the better they play the more money comes into that sport. The administration benefits from more students wanting to attend a high performing school, the student benefits from recruitment from colleges or universities and coaches get paid for how well their team(s) perform.
Who loses?
Those who don’t perform!
TT | May 13, 2008 | Reply
Schools should value academics over athletics. But of course, the American Dream is for every family to be related to a professional athlete who makes millions a season. The reality is that most athletes don’t get that far.
So kids get your education first and if athletics works well fine. But your over exerted body won’t last forever. There will always be someone younger and stronger. So concentrate on your studies and let that be your stardom.
Beth | May 17, 2008 | Reply
This is a really good article. As a former athlete in high school I know how great the risks can be. Injuries that I had as a teenager have become chronic as an adult.
My coach was always pushing us to get through “the pain” and now I have it for a lifetime.