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bulletPreventing burnout in youth sports.

by Jonathan H. Buzby


The best aspect of youth sports in the '90's is that kids have the opportunity to play organized sports when they are three years old. They can play multiple sports in one season. They can play one sport year-round, indoors and out. And there are summer camps for every sport with a schedule to fit every child's needs. Conversely, the best aspect of youth sports in the '90's may also be the most troubling aspect.

Youth sports participation used to be pretty simple. In the '70's and '80's kids played soccer or football in the fall, basketball or wrestling in the winter, and baseball or softball in the spring. The lucky (and wealthier) ones went to a summer camp for one week while the rest spent the summer at local pools and playgrounds.

Today, a child can play just about any sport he wants year-round. There are fall baseball leagues, summer basketball leagues, indoor golf ranges and tennis courts, indoor and outdoor soccer fields and roller hockey rinks, and opportunities to play every other sport you can imagine. Just about the only sport that remains exclusively as a one-season sport is football, and it probably will not be long before the youth football leagues start having spring practice just like the colleges.

How much is too much? Let your child decide. When your child stops having fun it might be a sign of burnout. Priorities have to be set. Your child's health is first and foremost. If he is getting tired and run down because he spends most evenings at practices it might be time to play just one sport per season (if he is playing more than one) or join a team that only practices once or twice a week (if he is on a team that practices more often). School must be important also. If he is not getting his homework finished or is not doing it correctly because he is too tired to concentrate, maybe he is involved in too many outside activities.

Sometimes a child does not want to disappoint mom or dad and will not admit he is tired of playing sports. Once in a while it is a good idea for the parent to decide for the child that it is time to take a season off. Unlike years ago, if you skip the fall soccer league you can usually join an indoor team before Thanksgiving, so it will not be an entire year before he can play again. How your child reacts to the break will also give you some indication as to whether it's a good idea to cut back next year.

Last but not least, take your own feelings into account. If running your child (or in many cases children) to practices every night of the week is burning you out, take a season off. Your kids might not understand but in the long run it will benefit the entire family.

Youth sports are great for kids. Take steps to make sure they do not get burned out. Well balanced sports participation can be an important part of a child's social, emotional, and physical well being. The longer kids play sports the better. The more fun they are having, the longer they will play.

 Dealing with injuries.
By IDEA

Most people have experienced painful muscle pulls, yet when it comes to treatment, deciding on the best course of action can be puzzling. This article describes tendonitis and bursitis (two painful conditions that affect muscles); gives tips on how to talk to a health care practitioner about an injury; and explains when to treat with heat versus ice.

Tendonitis and Bursitis
Tendonitis and bursitis are two common musculoskeletal conditions. Tendonitis is inflammation of a muscle tendon. Tendons lie at the ends of muscles, where they attach to bones. If a tendon is inflamed, acute or chronic pain occurs with movement of the muscle or joint. Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa. Bursas are fluid-filled sacs surrounding joints or muscle tendons; these sacs function to guide and lubricate the muscles and joints. Symptoms of bursitis include severe pain, especially in response to touch or movement, and limited range of motion. Health care professionals diagnose tendonitis and bursitis by palpating, examining and taking a history of the injury.

Fortunately, if tendonitis or bursitis is not severe, it may heal without any long-lasting effects. Complete healing time can range form two to six weeks, depending on the severity of the injury and adherence to a good treatment plan. Restoration or proper joint motion, rehabilitative stretching and strengthening, and physical therapy are extremely effective. These treatment methods help alleviate pain, prevent tissue scarring, and return the injured area to as close to normal function as possible. An injury is less likely to heal completely with competent care.

When You're Injured
When you get injured, it's best to consult a reputable health practitioner who knows about musculoskeletal health and injuries. Receiving a specific diagnosis for you injury is important. Ask if the injury is a muscle strain or tear, a tendon pull, a ligament sprain or an irritated bursa. Don't settle for a general diagnosis, such as, "Something in your hip is inflamed." Ask for specific treatment and get the name of the particular muscle, bursa or ligament involved. Muscle names can be long and difficult to pronounce. If you're not familiar with the name your doctor gives you, have him or her write it sown so you can look it up later.

What if you can't get immediate help? Remember the acronym "RICE" for strains and sprains:

Rest the affected area and avoid further injury.

Ice the area for at least 10 minutes every two to three hours to decrease pain and swelling.

Compress the area with an elastic bandage or wrap to minimize swelling.

Elevate the area to facilitate fluid drainage from the injured site.

Ice Versus Heat
Determine whether to use ice versus heat by keeping in mind the condition of the involved tissues.

Ice. Ice numbs the area, reducing pain. It also constricts blood vessels, limiting blood supply to the injured site. This action decreases swelling. Ice can also decrease muscle spasms. If an area is painful to move or swells after exercise, use ice. The best way to use ice is to apply a pack to the painful area for approximately 15 minutes every two hours following an injury. For general irritation, use an ice pack two or three times a day. If the cold is too intense, use a towel between the ice pack and your skin.

Heat. If an injury is in a more advanced stage of healing (usually after four or five days) heat is recommended. Again, keep in mind what heat does to an area. Heat increases local blood supply, bringing healing cells to the area and potentially relaxing tight muscles. Use moist, hot towels or microwavable heat packs for no more than 10 to 15 minutes several times a day. If the heat becomes too intense, put a towel or piece of clothing between the heat source and your skin. Never sleep on a heating pad.

If an area swells after use, it probably wasn't ready to be worked. You should generally rest and ice an injury for 48 to 72 hours, but this really depends on the severity and degree of damage.

Of course, preventing injuries before they happen is best! Properly stretch and warm up before placing any physical demands on your body and pay attention to what you body is telling you. Stop exercising before you feel pain or discomfort.

bulletFootball and Safety.
Is Football Safe for Kids?

by Kent Hannon: Sports Illustrated for Kids'

With proper coaching and equipment, the risk is minimal.

Ray McEwen is one of the men in charge of Sanford Stadium, where the University of Georgia Bulldogs play football. Over the years, he has seen college players dish out many head-jarring tackles, the kind that sports shows love to include in their highlight films. But the collision that scared McEwen the most was one that involved his son Brent.

At the time, McEwen was the coach of an age-group football team. Brent, then 10, played linebacker. "One day in practice, a ball carrier shot through the line and Brent collided with him, helmet to helmet," McEwen says. "Both kids went down and didn't move. I remember someone saying, 'Those kids are really hurt.'"

Though Brent's helmet slit in half, neither he nor the ball carrier was injured. Brent, who went on to play football through college, never suffered a serious injury. In fact, he sustained his worst football injury one day after practice. Brent and some friends were playing catch with a Nerf football when Brent tripped over his own helmet, fell, and broke his arm.

Three Safety Factors

Three factors helped prevent Brent from being seriously hurt when he collided with the other player. Those three factors explain why age-group football -- when taught and managed correctly -- is actually less dangerous, statistically speaking, than soccer.

1. Proper equipment minimizes the danger of serious injuries. "Brent was wearing a water-and-air-bladder helmet that was certified for college use," McEwen says. "He did split the helmet, but the helmet took most of the blow for him."

2. Proper technique helps kids avoid getting hurt. "Brent was taught that he should never use his helmet to make a tackle," says McEwen. "You lead with your shoulder. Even though this ball carrier surprised him, Brent was turning his head away at the time of the collision. That probably saved those boys from a concussion -- or worse."

3. FORCE = mass x acceleration, and kids don't generate much force. "Neither kid weighed one hundred pounds," says McEwen. "And they couldn't run very fast. So it wasn't like Lawrence Taylor crashing into Emmitt Smith."

Surprisingly Few Injuries

Experts believe that as many as one million kids play age-group football in the United States. (There is no national body that oversees age-group football.) WRYFL which is for kids ages 7 to 12, has strict safety rules against which all youth football programs should be measured.

"Safety is always a concern in our program," says Calvin Pratt, who is in his sixth year of coaching youth football. "Our coaches are certified by NYSCA, and they're well versed in coaching, conditioning, and safety. Frankly, many more of our kids get hurt riding bikes, climbing trees, or in-line skating than they do playing football."

And studies show that most youth football programs are relatively safe. In a recent study, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission examined athletic injuries on a sport-by-sport basis. It found that organized football 5-to-15 year-olds had 12 % fewer injuries per capita than organized soccer for the same age group. Football also had 50% fewer injuries than bike riding and 74% fewer than skateboarding.

Good Equipment Is the Key

"Kids do get hurt paying football," says Pratt. "But if you put a kid in the right equipment, teach him proper techniques, and play him against kids who are the same age it's a pretty safe sport."

Fortunately, football equipment for kids has never been better. The same companies who manufacture equipment for the colleges and pro teams make equipment for kids. Beyond the standard helmet, pads (shoulder, knee, thigh, hips, tailbone), and rubber cleats, WRYFL requires that players wear girdles over all the padding to keep the pads from slipping.

"In the end, what coaches have to remember about age-group football," says McEwen, is that it's all about providing recreation for kids in a safe environment. The score doesn't matter."

 ... more on safety.
Is Football Safe for Young Kids

The following article was printed in Parents magazine October 1994 page 26.

Question: My 9-year-old son wants to play on a tackle football team, but I am afraid he could be injured. How dangerous is the sport?

Answer "Football is no more dangerous than any other sport or hobby", says John F. Duff, M.D., author of Young Sports Injuries: A medical handbook for parents and coaches (Macmillan). "Kids younger than 16 rarely get injuries more serious than bruises or sprains," explains Duff, in part because young kids lack the strength to really hurt one another.

Before you sign your child up make sure the league adheres to the following safety measures:
1. The ratio of coaches to players is at least 1 to 10.
2. Players wear safety equipment (Helmet, Shoulder Pads, Mouth Piece, and Padded Pants) during contact.
3. Someone trained to handle injuries is available at all times.

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