It's becoming a tradition. Opening Day for the Boston Red Sox arrives and I find myself posting on youth sports safety. Why? Because of the 40 million kids and counting who are participating in youth sports leagues across our country who need us to wake up and pay attention to what they need as kids and developing athletes.
Last year I talked about the youth sports code of conduct and Opening Day for any new season affords a great opportunity to revisit that code and make sure all the adults involved with your kids' sports teams sign on to that code. And, I do mean all adults: parents, coaches, trainers. It's not just our kids who are on the team - we are as parents, too. We may be "just" the carpoolers and cheerleaders but that doesn't diminish our role to the functioning of the team.
Parents are not "just" cheerleaders at all. In fact, parents are really the gatekeepers of their own kids safety but to function in that role, parents need information. This is where Dr. Google can come in very handy!
Information helps not just in preparing our young athletes for each sport, but is your ultimate defense for ensuring your athlete is safe on the field. You don't need to understand each and every rule of the game. But, understand enough so if something looks off on the field, you'll be able to pick it up while on the sidelines cheering. Recent studies have shown that the number of intentional injuries on high school fields is much higher than we all realized. One way to help stop this madness, is for us as parents to know enough about game play to force the coaches and officials to do their jobs better.
There are many great websites for information, but for youth sports, there are only a couple I'd suggest you book mark. First, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) always puts out handy tips each sports season that hit the highlights. In fact, the AAP just released the latest version of their Sports Injury Prevention Tips, reprinted here with permission:
"More American children are competing in sports than ever before. Sports help children and adolescents keep their bodies fit and feel good about themselves. However, there are some important injury prevention tips that can help parents promote a safe, optimal sports experience for their child.
Injury Risks
All sports have a risk of injury. In general, the more contact in a sport, the greater the risk of injury.
Most injuries occur to ligaments (connect bones together), tendons (connect muscles to bones) and muscles. Only about 5 percent of sports injuries involve broken bones. However, the areas where bones grow in children are at more risk of injury during the rapid phases of growth. In a growing child, point tenderness over a bone should be evaluated further by a medical provider even if minimal swelling or limitation in motion is appreciated.
Most frequent sports injuries are sprains (injuries to ligaments) and strains (injuries to muscles), caused when an abnormal stress is placed on tendons, joints, bones and muscle. As always, contact your pediatrician if you have additional questions or concerns.
To reduce injury:
* Wear the right gear. Players should wear appropriate and properly fit protective equipment such as pads (neck, shoulder, elbow, chest, knee, shin), helmets, mouthpieces, face guards, protective cups, and/or eyewear. Young athletes should not assume that protective gear will protect them from performing more dangerous or risky activities.
* Strengthen muscles. Conditioning exercises before games and during practice strengthens muscles used in play.
* Increase flexibility. Stretching exercises before and after games or practice can increase flexibility.
* Use the proper technique. This should be reinforced during the playing season.
* Take breaks. Rest periods during practice and games can reduce injuries and prevent heat illness.
* Play safe. Strict rules against headfirst sliding (baseball and softball), spearing (football), and body checking (ice hockey) should be enforced. Stop the activity if there is pain.
* Avoid heat injury by drinking plenty of fluids before, during and after exercise or play; decrease or stop practices or competitions during high heat/humidity periods; wear light clothing.
Sports-Related Emotional Stress
The pressure to win can cause significant emotional stress for a child. Sadly, many coaches and parents consider winning the most important aspect of sports. Young athletes should be judged on effort, sportsmanship and hard work. They should be rewarded for trying hard and for improving their skills rather than punished or criticized for losing a game or competition."
These tips are great but only hit the highlights. For more specific information on each sport, including the rules and expert insight, check out www.momsteam.com. MomsTeam is a comprehensive website dedicated to youth sports with the unique goal of "creating a safer, saner, less stressful & more inclusive youth sports experience". You can find a lot of youth sports information on the web, but not in one place and from actual youth sports experts.
There is one final element that you need to make sure is part of any youth sports season your child participates in: fun. Honestly, what's the point in playing if your child is not having fun. Childhood should be about fun, especially with sports. And, I'd argue fun and competition can co-exist on the playing field. In fact, for youth sports, a savvy coach with a developmental background, will be able to do just that.
When day light savings day arrived, I bet you changed all the batteries in your smoke detectors. You likely go through that ritual each fall and spring, right? You have to do a similar ritual with youth sports but with each and every sports season. Youth sports contain a number of burning ambers ready to ignite on many different levels from the leagues on down to the athlete. You are your kids best smoke detector for this fire and it starts with information, awareness and a willingness to speak up when you see something not quite right on the sports field. That is how you fit on your kids' teams - and how your kids need you to be involved.
