Before letting your child join the team, understand the most frequent injuries and their causes. Ask about equipment and availability of certified care.

Youth Sports Injuries Are Frequent

Sports injuries are one of the most frequent causes of adolescent injury and a cause for concern, according to Dr. Charles E. Wilhelm of Virginia Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in Williamsburg, Virginia. “It is important for parents to note that 65 percent of these injuries occur during practice,” he said.

The National Youth Sports Safety Foundation estimates that three to five million young athletes go to emergency rooms for sports injuries and their family doctors may see another eight million. The Foundation and Wilhelm believe that many of these costly and upsetting injuries are preventable.

Be Proactive to Protect Youth Against Sports-Related Injuries

“Parents should ask if first aid is available and a backup plan for treatment is in place,” said Wilhelm. “Ask if the team has a certified athletic trainer available and if the coach is certified in sports first aid.”

For contact sports, Wilhelm laments the fact that many young athletes and their teams use second-hand safety equipment. Too often, pads are worn out, materials are dry rotting, and straps are broken. “Children and their parents often borrow equipment and aren’t aware that it doesn’t fit properly.” Wilhelm believes that when equipment fits and is in good condition, young people get more enjoyment out of the sport. “My daughter had a hard time learning to ski. When we refit her boots, she took off.”

Adult athletes know that pre-participation stretching is vital to prevent pain and injury. The same is true for youth. Wilhelm cautions that they should be treated like adults when they are told safety precautions, especially concerning drinking plenty of water and warming up the muscles. “Dehydration and cramping is a problem, especially in summer youth sports camps when the temperatures soar,” he said. “Parents and kids should pay attention to weather conditions.”

Disciplined and Aware Athletes are Less Likely to be Injured

Wilhelm points out that the best athletes in high school and college are usually the most disciplined and that discipline extents to following sports safety rules. He believes that people who excel in sports realize the relationship between safety and performance.

In Williamsburg, annual youth sports events including soccer tournaments and cheerleading association competitions bring young athletes to the area. These events provide occasions for parents to remind young athletes about the importance of safety in sports and the role of athletic trainers. Athletic training events at the College of William and Mary sponsored by Cramer, the leading supplier of athletic training and sports medicine supplies, have introduced many in the area to the growing field of athletic training.

Athletic Training as a Profession

“When most area parents were in school, there were no athletic trainers,” said Wilhelm. “The profession grew through the 1980s and today many high schools are adding certified athletic trainers to their staffs.” Athletic training has also been added to some college curriculums as a major.

Don't Push Youth to Greater Injury

But an athletic trainer alone cannot keep kids safe. Wilhelm has found that youth athletes do not report injuries and sometimes disregard pain. This is of special concern because young bones are still growing and growth areas close to the joints are weak points. What may appear to be a sprain may be a growth plate injury which can result in crooked or stunted bone growth.

“A small injury that is neglected can hurt performance and snowball into something worse,” Wilhelm said. Other injures that are often overlooked are overuse injuries. For women, track injuries are most common due to overuse. This leads to torn ligaments. “These often happen when a woman goes from high school to college level sports. Because competition is greater, there is a need to increase speed and performance quickly.” This leads to stress fractures that are sore areas and are not visible on an x-ray.

Finally, Wilhelm cautions that youth also suffer emotional abuse because parents put too much pressure on their children. The stakes are high when it comes to earning scholarships or professional rank. “Emotional abuse is a preventable injury. Parents should recognize that it is very important to be positive and supporting.”

Charles E. Wilhelm, M.D., is a member of Virginia Orthopedic & Sports Medicine, a Sentara Medical Group practice.

A Checklist for Parents and Youth Athletes

• Are the coaches certified in sports first aid and CPR?
• Does either the national governing body of their sport, the American Red Cross Sports Safety Training Program, the National Youth Sports Coaches Association, or the American Sport Education Program certify the coaches?
• Are background checks done on coaches before they are hired?
• Does the coach have a written emergency plan in case of an accident? Has their been an accident safety drill?
• Is there a first-aid box and ice at the site of all practices and games?
• Does the coach have young athletes do warm-up, stretching, and cool down exercises?
• Does the coach hand out a conditioning program before signups, so prospective student athletes know before they go out for a team what is to be expected of them physically?
• Does your town have a sports injury prevention course for students as part of their health education program?
• Are pre-participation physical exams required for sports activities?
• Are facilities checked for safety on a regular basis?
• Is safety equipment available or required? Does it fit properly? Does it meet national standards? Is it in good condition?
• Does the team have a parent code of conduct?
• Does the team have a preseason meeting for parents outlining the program philosophy and safety procedures?

Source: the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation