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Outdoor sports are in full-swing everywhere. So many more things seem to have the potential to negatively affect athletes this time of year. And I don't mean just coaches with shorter fuses.
Environmental hazards are a lot more common! You might not think a coach should be too concerned about such things, but these hazards can affect performance. Fortunately, many are fairly simple to deal with. A well-prepared coach can keep athletes on the field, and out of the emergency room.
Previous installments of "Coaching and Sports" have taken a look at lightning and heat/humidity. This one will be devoted to: asthma/hay fever, stinging insects, poisonous plants, and topics such as sunburn.
Mike Clark
Coaching & Sports Section Editor
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Another problem for outdoor sports is insect stings. Having coached softball for many years, I know that wasps, yellow jackets, and the like love dugouts, scoreboards, and fence posts. And there is a real chance of several athletes being stung at the same time. Better to be prepared.
A good survey of information can be found through the "About" service. Look at First Aid for Bee and Insect Stings, Facts on Stinging Insects, and "Frequently Asked Questions."
This last article (from the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology) is really important. It reviews the essentials, but it goes on to make the point that people can die from an allergic response. It is a rare event, but one coaches should know about. Emergency procedures are reviewed.
And for us northern folk, a look at the information about fire ants might not be a bad idea. Especially if we're planning to take a team South for a tournament, or two.
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There is a great one-stop site for another outdoor problem; poison ivy, sumac, and oak. Try the Food and Drug Administration's "Outsmarting Poison Ivy and Its Cousins."
Another good one-stop site is HealthCentral.com for information about sunburn. I would also suggest that you look at Sun-Sentinel.com. This site has a UV Index Map that is updated daily. This provides information about exposure, and offers protection guidelines.
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It's not basketball season, but the following thoughts apply to any coaching situation. They come from Al McGuire by way of Coach Moyer in the fascinating book "In These Girls Hope is a Muscle" (A great read!):
"Don't ever have any vendettas in basketball, just love affairs."
"Don't lie to your kids. Lies can break up a battalion."
"Every season has at least 7 or 8 crises: sprained ankles, games canceled due to weather, infuriated parents, or kids who fade away in the middle of the season. A certain amount is normal, but when you get 15 or 20, it grinds you down to just surviving. Anticipate the crises and work with them, but don't let them throw you off course."
"If you want to win, get your players to love the game. Coach your personality."
"No coach wins a game by what he or she knows; you win by what your players have learned."
"A coach who starts out listening to the fans ends up sitting next to them."
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A reminder that the conference "Quality Sports Begin With Quality Coaches" is taking place in Indianapolis from June 28 through July 1.
Friday and Saturday will focus on how various programs go about educating coaches in the key elements of the profession. Every aspect essential to successful coaching will be covered!
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I Want to be Possible
The teacher asked her class what each wanted to become when they grew up. A chorus of responses came from all over the room.
"A football player," "A doctor," "An astronaut," "The president," "A fireman," "A teacher," "A race car driver."
Everyone that is, except Tommy.
The teacher noticed he was sitting there quiet and still.
So she said to him, "Tommy, what do you want to be when you grow up?"
"Possible" Tommy replied.
"Possible?" asked the teacher.
"Yes," Tommy said. "My mom is always telling me I'm impossible. So when I get to be big, I want to be possible."
~ Author Unknown ~
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Possibly the last word on heat and humidity, and their consequences for sports, can be found at the Zunis site. This site includes just about everything you might want or need to know about this topic. It looks at football, running, and exercise in general. Guidelines are suggested. This site also includes links to additional information.
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Sometimes we need a quick introduction to some topics. The issue of allergies, asthma and respiratory distress in athletes is one. A quick intro can be found on the SportsParents web site from SI for Kids.
More information, including comments on medication and other treatments, can be found at sickbay.com. The author who is an MD, considers various problems, causes, and treatments. The net result is a pretty solid introduction. Just don't be put off by it's appearing as all text.
A more general discussion of how asthma and allergies affect people - including young people - appears at WebMD. Of real interest is the quick overview of allergic rhinitis, better known as "hay fever." This is an interactive animation feature that is really helpful in understanding the issue. The WebMD page also has information about food allergies which may be a factor for coaches as well.
Physician and SportsMedicine also has a good look at hay fever, which of course has an emphasis on sports.
asthma.about.com is an excellent resource for information on asthma and sports. Some articles include: "Asthma Friendly Sports - Swimming," "Asthma, sport, and exercise," "Asthma Common in U.S. Olympic Athletes," "On the Teen Scene: Being a Sport with Exercise-Induced Asthma," and "Teens, Sports, and Exercise-Induced Asthma."
Links to other resources are also included, but more importantly, there is an opportunity to "Ask the Expert."
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Sun and Skin
This is a Nova site which looks at sun and skin. It examines skin cancer and has links to types of skin cancer, diagnosing skin cancer, Australian research, sunblocks, and sunscreens.
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If you have ideas, comments, letters to share, or questions about particular topics, please email one of the following Coaching & Sports Section Editors:
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Help to support quality physical education and health education by contributing to this site.
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