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Safety in Youth Sports
My last issue focused on skill development. Before we can maximize skill in sport, we need to be sure to keep our athletes safe.
In the last "Coaching" issue, Mike Clark provided some good information relative to environmental safety. This issue focuses on the physical safety of youth sport participants.
Several readings have been provided which I hope you will find useful.
Gib Darden
Coaching & Sports Section Editor
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Worried about mouth injuries? Join the crowd. There is more concern than ever. This article about mouthguards is pretty educational.
How safe is a high school athletic program? Here is a great reference provided by the National Athletic Trainers Association. It provides 10 safety items parents should look for in a program.
The Importance of Stretching reviews what many of us know, but may not do. Share this with youth sport leaders who need improvement.
Some have suggested that safety is a by-product of sportsmanship, and that participants in the spirit of sport, strive to keep all safe. This being the case, check out Dr. Darrell Burnett's article about how we teach kids to be "Good Sports." Use the checklist. It is really good.
Youth strength training really can help prevent injuries. Surely it can help, but it is not that simple according to this article.
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I can't play being mad. I go out there and have fun. It’s a game, and that’s how I am going to treat it."
-Ken Griffey, Jr.
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More Than Just an Athlete
"Most coaches would agree that coaching is about a lot more than just relaying technical information to an athlete. It's about establishing a quality working relationship where goals are set, a training program is devised, and elements of trust and respect are fostered. Not surprisingly, it's within the matrix of this kind of relationship, that the character of an athlete can be molded into something positive." Read the rest of this article.
Coaching Basics
A Guide for New Coaches
Coaching Basics is a free, downloadable resource for new coaches. It provides useful tips and information on the questions new coaches most frequently ask!
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Safety Training for Coaches
Sad to say, the majority of coaches have not received any safety training. This is a neat article that highlights the need, and shows the current status of coach training. It contains lots of good links. You might use this to advocate for best practice in your organization.
Recruiting Volunteers
On fellow editor Rich Stratton's web site, there is a nice full article on how to recruit volunteers. Perhaps we should be doing this a little better as we seek to provide safe environments.
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By nature, coaches analyze and predict. This continuing column is for those who inquire about the latest scientific advances to further best practice in coaching. There is some really useful information in these studies.
For those stop-and-go sports, there is new information about the use of carbohydrate loading. Are they useful just for endurance events? See the latest research in this practical research article for coaches.
What do coaches want? Where are they coming from? What are their expectations. Craig Stewart's research perspective is thought provoking. Of course, it should help us develop our coaching philosophy. In the end, parents, administrators, and coaches must work together for a safe and productive environment.
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"If you don't do what's best for your body, you're the one who comes up on the short end."
- Julius Erving
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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!
Coaches, there are ways to reinforce and reward sportsmanship. This web site provides an easy way to do that with a neat awards program that can be individualized.
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Self Confidence
by Fran Kelly, Coach
"One day I realized that it didn’t matter. It didn’t matter whether my friends and acquaintances agreed with me, believed the way I did, or thought I was odd. And, come to think of it, that knot which was in my chest for (-ever?) so long, was gone. In its place was something solid, and warm, strong and flexible. In its place was calm self confidence." Read the rest of this article.
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Basketball: Respect for the game, Respect for your opponent
by George Blaney
University of Rhode Island
Men's Assistant Basketball Coach
"I always thought one of the great things about playing basketball was that it taught you how to win and lose. Long before replays, high fives, and celebration for individual play, the game was taught by coaches that preached respect for the game and respect for your opponent." Read the rest of this article.
Teaching Kids to be Good Sports
by Dr. Darrell J. Burnett
"We're living in an age where the preservation of traditional values can no longer be taken for granted." Read the rest of this article.
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Guidelines For Safe Exercise and Sport for children
Which Sports When?
That is not an easy question, and it must be considered from several perspectives. Check out what Carl Sherman's story suggests about a child's readiness to play in a specific sport. It really makes sense!
Overuse Injuries
Recent data indicate that 30% to 50% of all pediatric sports injuries are due to overuse. Athletes who had overuse injuries lost 54% more time from training and competition than those who had acute injuries. This near epidemic problem needs to be understood and addressed.
Child athletes are ending careers prematurely and creating problems for adult years. And most could be prevented. John P. DiFiori, MD explains it all very well.
Guidelines for Parents
The Physician and Sportsmedicine has a really useful list of things for parents to remember about safe participation; as appeared in Dear Abby.
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"Anything you ever wanted to know" about health and safety issues is available on this website in a very user-friendly format. MomsTeam.com provides a great resource!
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The Fence
There was a little boy with a bad temper.
His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, to hammer a nail in the back fence.
The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence.
Then it gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.
Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.
The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.
The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence.
He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same."
When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there.
**A verbal wound is just as bad as a physical one.**
~ Author Unknown ~
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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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