Kids and Overuse Injuries in Sports

[oregonpackfan]

This week's issue of Sports Illustrated has an excellent article about kids and overuse injuries in sports. It focuses on the injuries received when kids choose, or are encouraged to choose, one sport to play--many of them year round. It states that kids who play one sport exclusive to other sports are developing high rates of injuries than kids who play several sports.

For example, kids who decide to play exclusively tennis at an early age develop more injuries than kids who play a variety of sports throughout the year.

http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1154189/index.htm

[Dylan McKay]

I believe this 100%. Kids are also turning away from sports and a much high number because of the increase in competition at such early ages. Everything is "select" this or "try out" this. Not to mention how expensive sports are getting as well, league dues, team fees, and travel expenses.

Kids that use to join athletics for social reason are no longer participating because the competition factor is so high. If you didn't play on 3 AAU baseball teams that traveled around the country, and you only played in your cities rec league well forget making the freshman baseball team in high school, because you certainly haven't put enough into the sport as maturing 14 year old. Your time has passed.

It is time we take a step back and realize, that we maybe producing better more elite athletes, but we are also creating a huge gap between those that are really good at a sport and the athletes that are beginners in the sport. There is simply not enough time for freshman in high school to catch up, it is painfully obvious to them and they quit. Everyone wants to create a prodigy, the next Tiger Woods, or the next Alex Rodriquez, but in doing so you are in reality hurting sports as a whole, your missing out on a lot of diamonds in the rough. Kids are getting left in the dust in sports today.

[Dylan McKay]

A generation on the sidelines: Why Minnesota kids are leaving school sports behind
http://www.twincities.com/prep/ci_11963532

The participation rate for... Boys wrestling is down by 58 percent from 1981 to last year

"The Minnesota Department of Education annually checks sports participation at the state's schools to see if schools are meeting the goals of Title IX, the 1972 federal law calling for gender equity.

Computerized records begin with the 1980-81 school year. Since then, sports participation peaked in 1981-82 at 45 percent for boys and girls combined. Participants in boys' sports equaled 54 percent of all boys, and the girls' participation rate was 36 percent.

When officials issued the 2007-08 totals last month, the numbers showed a few gains since 1980-81. About three times as many girls were playing interscholastic soccer, and girls hockey had surged from virtually nothing to about 2,800.

But the gains were swallowed by a wave of declines in other sports.

The participation rate for interscholastic girls basketball is down 55 percent. Girls volleyball dropped by half.

Boys wrestling is down by 58 percent. Basketball, cut in half. Football, down 46 percent. Hockey, 31 percent.

Track and field dropped about 40 percent for boys and girls. Some sports, such as boys gymnastics, have died.

Intramural sports took the biggest hit of all.

In the 1980s, about 74,000 children picked from a smorgasbord of 70 intramural sports. The range was impressive — everything from co-ed wrestling to roller-skating.

"It used to be you could play sports by just showing up," Coonce said.

By 2007-08, intramural programs had evaporated — with only eight sports and 5 percent participation. "

[MJZiggy]

I believe this 100%. Kids are also turning away from sports and a much high number because of the increase in competition at such early ages. Everything is "select" this or "try out" this. Not to mention how expensive sports are getting as well, league dues, team fees, and travel expenses.

Kids that use to join athletics for social reason are no longer participating because the competition factor is so high. If you didn't play on 3 AAU baseball teams that traveled around the country, and you only played in your cities rec league well forget making the freshman baseball team in high school, because you certainly haven't put enough into the sport as maturing 14 year old. Your time has passed.

It is time we take a step back and realize, that we maybe producing better more elite athletes, but we are also creating a huge gap between those that are really good at a sport and the athletes that are beginners in the sport. There is simply not enough time for freshman in high school to catch up, it is painfully obvious to them and they quit. Everyone wants to create a prodigy, the next Tiger Woods, or the next Alex Rodriquez, but in doing so you are in reality hurting sports as a whole, your missing out on a lot of diamonds in the rough. Kids are getting left in the dust in sports today. :bclap: :bclap: :bclap:

[oregonpackfan]

Part of the increase in injuries and dropoff in participation percentages maybe the pressure to "achieve" at the higher level.

When my older daughter was in 7th grade, she participated in seasonal sports of soccer, basketball, and softball. As she and another teammates were standouts on their rec softball team, we were approached by coaches, league officials, etc. to have the girls play for an elite level softball league.

The high school softball coach said something to the effect of "If she wants to start for the high school team, she has to play in this league to make it." At the time, the high school softball team was one of the best in the state.

The girls did not want to leave their friends on the rec team, so we parents reluctantly agreed to let the girls play on both the rec and elite level team. Was that ever a mistake!

We had days where she had two take two different uniforms from the house. She had to play a game for the rec league and change uniforms in the moving car so we could make the next game. For much of that spring, she was stressed and exhausted.

Besides schoolwork(she was a 4.0 student), she had dance class, piano lessons, and was involved with our church youth group. She just had too many things on her plate.

When softball coaches approached her at the end of the season about her playing softball in a summer league and "Fall Ball" we emphatically said, "NO!" We realized if she was to enjoy playing sports she needed to have a diversity of sports with just 1 sport per season.

In high school, she played basketball, soccer, and softball. We said "NO!" when coaches tried to pressure her to play in summer leagues. She was never a star, or even "very good" but she had positive experiences making the team in all three of the sports. She finished high school with a 3.91GPA.

Two of her softball teammates did end up playing collegiate ball. Looking back, I think sports were a positive influence on her development but she needed to balance that with other essential parts of her life.

[mraynrand]

At our house, we practice cross training. During the school year, the kids work at the cannery for 6 hours after school. In the summer, they dig trenches on weekdays and tar roofs on the weekends. They get to work in the quarry only when they get to middle school.

[digitaldean]

Have a niece that was a bench warmer during our town's season to the D1 girls' softball title. She plays softball from February (at an indoor facility) through October.

She has had 4 knee surgeries and to compound it all, she is about 75 lbs. overweight for her height. Can't say anything to the parents because they fly off the handle when asked about her playing so much. They appear to live vicariously thru her athletics.

What about the pure enjoyment of sports? Yes, competition provides lessons in teamwork and practice, etc. But too many are driven beyond the point by overzealous parents.

My youngest played soccer for the past few years in grade school and thru village rec. leagues. She wants to stop soccer and cut back on her basketball. I'm glad she wanted to cut back because her grades need more attention anyway.

My oldest plays H.S. tennis, but I'm not pushing her thru lessons at the racquet club or travelling to summer tournaments. One, I can't afford it and, two, she only has one childhood. She's a great kid and has already lettered academically and scholastically. I'm not going to push it.

The parents have to avoid burning out their kids plus taking the FUN out of sports.