I am a massive football fan at all levels: youth, college, and professional. However, at what point and at what cost do players, young or old, suffer extreme consequences? When personal injuries do happen to young children, how much more of an impact does it have?
According to the National Institute of Health, approximately two million children ranging from kindergarten to seventh grade were injured playing a youth sport in 2001, many with traumatic brain injuries.
Thankfully, the majority of those injuries were minor. Nevertheless, a large number were not. Of those severe child injuries, several had permanent implications.
Young children are still growing, and their bones are not fully developed. When fractures and brutal injuries take place, it is a concern for many orthopedic surgeons because children’s growth plates are incredibly fragile.
With the lack of muscle development, kids are even more susceptible to neck and back injuries.
Pete Mackey published an article in The Safety Report Magazine, citing ten tips an orthopedic surgeon recommended you follow if your child is determined to smack heads on the playing field.
1) Health
First, make sure your child is healthy enough to play. Most associations require a physical, but have one done by a doctor who knows your child, such as your pediatrician.
2) Pads and Helmets Have a Purpose – Use Them!
Preventing injuries is vital. Equipment that does not fit correctly defeats the purpose of wearing safety gear. Does the helmet fit correctly and have enough air in the pads?
3) Make Sure the Coaches Have the Same Agenda as You: Safety First
If the coach’s attitude is “no pain, no gain,” the chance of your son getting injured increases exponentially. Playing through the pain at any age, especially a young child’s, is good to a certain extent.
4) Do the Coaches Know What They Are Talking About?
It does not take long to find out whether a coach understands the game and how to play it safely. Also, the coach should know you have questions that need answers. When you do ask the coach, is he/she genuine or unreceptive to answering?
5) Winning and safety
Safety is a parent’s number one priority. Conversely, coaches usually want to win; unfortunately, winning and safety can not be at the top of the chart. Does your coach understand how important winning is on a youth scale?
6) Pick on Someone Your Size
At the youth level, kids should participate against kids their size. Many associations have weight limits for a reason. It is not okay for an 80-pound third grader to play on a 120-pound sixth grader’s team to make carpooling easier.
7) Don’t forget about the field
Is it kept in good condition? Does it have many holes or garbage, such as broken glass, that could cause injuries?
8) Watch Out for the Heat
A watered-down sports drink will keep your child hydrated. That is extremely important in high temperatures during conditioning.
9) Don’t Ignore the Small Injuries
Don’t take your kid to the Doctor’s office with every small scrape, but do not accept “it’s nothing.” Persistent problems usually deserve medical attention.
10) Sculpt the Guns
As your children hit puberty, they will probably want to head to the gym to impress the opposite sex. Proper strength training is essential, but especially at such a young age. Parents should encourage supervision.
Parents enjoy watching sports. Watching their children participate and have fun is a gift of its own. Unfortunately, child injuries are a part of sports. It is essential to teach children that when they are knocked down, they should get back up. However, safety should be everyone’s number one priority.