Youth Sports: Benefits, Injuries & Coaching - McGraw-Hill

McGraw-Hill/Irwin © 2012 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.  Did you know… #1 reason children cite for their participation in a sports program? “to have fun” “Winning the game” is #8 of 10 15-2  Youth Sports Definiti...

McGraw-Hill/Irwin © 2012 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.  Did you know… #1 reason children cite for their participation in a sports program? “to have fun” “Winning the game” is #8 of 10 15-2  Youth Sports Definition - Athletic endeavors that provide children and youth with a systematic sequence of practices and contests 39 million youth participate in nonschool sponsored programs 15-3  Youth Sports Why are so many children involved? Trend toward earlier participation A 4-year-old holds the age group record for running a 40 mile Will the trend toward younger sport participation every end? 15-4 Why are so many children involved? Increase in female participation The number of interscholastic sports for girls has increased from 14 (1971) to 41 (2009) 2008-09 Interscholastic sport participation Boys: 4,422662 Girls: 3,114,091 15-5 Why are so many children involved? Children are beginning to get involved in what used to be considered nontraditional sport activities Tennis, cycling, bowling, ice hockey, cross- country skiing Rule changes Even the youngest child can experience success (stationary t-ball) 15-6 Why are so many children involved? There is an increase in the number of disabled children who participate 15-7  Youth Sports Agency / community sponsored programs for disabled youth American Wheelchair Bowling Association Handicapped Scuba Association National Foundation of Wheelchair Tennis National Wheelchair Softball Association Special Olympics United States Quad Rugby Association 15-8 Benefits of youth sport activities Academic performance improvement Physical fitness Self-esteem enhancement Deterrent to negative behavior 15-9 Where Children Participate in Sports Agency sponsored sports Little league baseball Pop Warner football Club sports Pay for services (gymnastics, tennis) Recreational sport programs Everyone plays Intramural sports Middle, junior, senior high school Interscholastic sports Middle, junior, senior high school 15-10 Most Popular Interscholastic Sports 15-11 Most Popular Interscholastic Sports 15-12  KidSport™ is a children’s charity dedicated to assisting children of families facing financial obstacles to participate in community sport programs. KidSport™ grants range from $100 to $750 to cover the cost of registration fees for one season of sport. Some chapters may also assist with equipment, youth leadership opportunities, sport camps and travel costs. McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2011 15-13 Why Children Participate in Sports To have fun Intrinsic reasons To improve skills Not extrinsic reasons To stay in shape To do something I’m good at For the excitement of competition To get exercise To play as part of a team For the challenge of competition To learn to skills To win 15-14 Why Children Participate in Sports Wankel and Kreisel (1985) Emphasis should be on involvement, skill development, and enjoyment of doing the skills According to the children, winning and receiving rewards for playing are of secondary importance The establishment of rigid schedules and elimination play-offs to declare a winner is a questionable practice if the criterion is to provide enjoyment to all participants 15-15  Participation: Competence Motivation Theory Harter’s Model Individuals are motivated to be successful in various achievement areas such as sports, academics, or human relationships When performance is successful, there is a positive effect on the individual When performance is not successful, the individual will most likely quit 15-16 Younger children evaluate their physical competence based upon game outcome and parental feedback Older children and adolescents use social comparisons and evaluation by peers Children become more accurate in personal assessment of physical competence as they age 15-17 35% of millions withdraw from sport Why? 15-18 Why Children Drop Out of Sports Contrary to popular belief, children do not drop out of sports because of stress Children may drop out to sample another sport More often, withdrawing from a sport is due to interpersonal problems e.g. don’t like coach Researchers report that a majority of “dropouts” reenter the same or new sport Caution should be used when using the term “sport dropout” When sport is no longer fun 15-19 15-20 15-21  Children want to have fun and want practices to be more fun! 15-22 Sport Participation: Controversies Medical Issues in Football, Baseball & Soccer Growth Plate Injuries Overuse injuries Are youth sports injuries avoidable? Nutrition Making weight 15-23 Commotio Cordis – Chest Trauma Sudden unexpected cardiac death that occurs in young people during sports participation is usually associated with previously diagnosed or undiagnosed structural or primary electrical cardiac abnormalities. Hamlin 2022 - Football Commotio cordis – batter struck in chest with pitched ball; catcher struck by foul tipped ball 15-24  Sport Participation: Football Football is classified as a contact/collision sport Injury rate increases as players mature in age and grade level 65% of the injuries occur in offensive players However overall injury rate for youth football is low 15-25 Sport Participation: Football 15-26 Sport Participation: Football Causes of Injury No unusual occurrence Helmet Contact after whistle blown for dead ball Contact during conditioning drills 15-27 Sport Participation: Baseball Occurs more often in boys under 16 2-4 deaths reported each year http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLtzT2bXVGI Eye injuries Softer ball used because of the concern for commotio cordis However, physicians are concerned that a softer ball will allow more of the ball to enter the eye orbit, resulting in a greater number of eye injuries 15-28 Sport Participation: Baseball Breakaway bases have reduced the number of lower extremity injuries 15-29 Sport Participation: Soccer Soccer is classified as a contact/collision sport One of America’s fastest growing sports Girls have a higher injury rate Reason - lower skill development and training Greater injury rate during final rounds However, most injuries are minor 15-30 Sport Participation: Soccer Heading the ball in soccer 47.8% of adolescents experience concussion during the season Repeated heading may result in long-term medical issues 15-31 Sport Participation: Soccer How can soccer injuries be reduced? Closer officiating Pregame warnings for playing tactics (take downs, hacking) Coaching within the spirit of the rules Protective padding for players and goal posts Remove all sideline objects (chairs, water coolers, etc.) 15-33 Sport Participation: Overuse Injuries Youth are specializing in sport at earlier ages which involves year round training Overuse injuries occur as a result of placing the body under repeated stress over a long period of time 15-34 Sport Participation: Overuse Injuries Little League Elbow Repeated forces to medial or lateral elbow structures Not seen as frequently today Runner’s knee Inappropriate tracking of kneecap when running Children should not specialize in a sport when young 15-35 Are Youth Sport Injuries Avoidable? Make sure young athletes have been properly conditioned Avoid overtraining Provide qualified adult supervision Change rules to create a safe environment Match competitors according to body size and weight At greatest risk for injury Young girls Young boys between 11- and 13-years-old 15-36 Are Youth Sport Injuries Avoidable?? Require use of appropriate safety equipment Do not allow an injured child to return to competition until the injury has been fully rehabilitated Do not allow children to partake in questionable practices designed to create a competitive edge Use coaches who are certified 15-37  Sport Participation: Nutrition Child’s appetite should dictate need The practice of fasting (wrestling) and quick weight gain (football) should be avoided Vitamin supplements are not necessary when the young athlete is eating a balanced meal 15-38 Sport Participation: Making Weight Some adults have used unacceptable practices to give their child a competitive edge Exercising in a sauna Not letting child drink water Not allowing child to swallow spit Administering diuretics Exercising in a rubber suit Fasting 15-39 Sport Participation: Making Weight Dangers of rapid dehydration Cells, urine output, blood volume and sweating mechanisms do not function properly 3% weight loss will decrease physical performance 5% weight loss can lead to heat exhaustion 7% loss can lead to hallucinations 10% weight loss can lead to heat stroke and circulatory collapse 15-40 Sport Participation: Psychological Issues Psychological issues Stress Unpleasant emotional state Reducing competitive stress 15-41 Sport Participation: Psychological Issues Children’s precompetitive state anxiety in 11 sport activities. The precompetitive state anxiety scale ranges from 10-30 15-42 Sport Participation: Reducing Stress Change something about the sport so that success occurs more often than failure T-ball uses stationary batting tee instead of a pitcher Skill training instills confidence More time should be spent on teaching and less time on scrimmaging 15-43 Sport Participation: Reducing Stress Children who perceive themselves as competent, are less threatened and perform better Winning/losing should be placed in perspective Child may feel that he/she has disappointed parents or coach Help child set realistic goals 15-44  Youth Sport Coaching Who’s coaching our children? 3.5 million coaches 2.5 are million volunteers 90% lack the necessary formal preparation to coach 15-45 Youth Sport Coaching Why do people volunteer? Involvement of coach's child in league Personal enjoyment Skill development of players Character development of players Personal challenge 9 out of 10 youth sport coaches are men 50% of women’s teams are coached by men 15-46 More Women Coaches Needed 15-47 Youth Sport Coaching - Education National Standards for Athletic Coaches standards: Injury care and prevention Risk management Knowledge of growth and development Training, conditioning, and nutrition Social/psychological aspects of coaching Skills, tactics, strategies Teaching and administration Professional preparation and development 15-48 Youth Sport Coaching: Certification The CAC works with over 66 different National Sport Organizations across Canada in the development of sport- specific NCCP training. Currently, there are over 850 workshops available at every level of sport – from 3-hour online introductory workshops for beginner coaches, to weekend workshops for intermediate coaches, to intensive two-year training programs for advanced coaches.  Youth Sport Coaching Arguments against mandatory coaching certification Due to the increase in participation, more sport offerings are required, and therefore, additional coaches are needed Demand for coaches exceeds supply Programs may have to be cut Certification process is expensive 15-50 Parental Education: Curbing Violence There has been a significant increase in violent behavior from parents Occurrences range from attacks to murder Organizations are requiring parental education Sportsmanship training Parents Association for Youth Sports (PAYS) In order for a child to participate in a youth sport, parents must become members of PAYS 15-51 Bill of Rights of Young Athletes 15-52 15-53