By: food handlers card texas Suanne Kowal-Connelly, MD, FAAP
Millions of food handlers card texas high school boys and girls take part in team sports on courts, in food handlers card texas pools, on fields, and in gyms. Millions more join in recreational or competitive sports outside of food handlers card texas school. Teen athletes food handlers card texas who bloom early or late, however, may have special safety concerns—as food handlers card texas will their parents.
The Problem:
As mentioned in food handlers card texas, going through puberty can have a significant impact on athletic performance in both positive and food handlers card texas negative ways. Further, organized sports leagues tend to food handlers card texas group kids by age instead of developmentally. Just as it is unrealistic to expect all children at the same age to achieve the same academic food handlers card texas level, it is unrealistic to expect children at the same age food handlers card texas to have the same food handlers card texas physical development, motor skills, and physical capacity. Some children have a slow growth food handlers card texas spurt, while others food handlers card texas grow so fast they need a speeding ticket!
Late bloomers (especially boys) may experience food handlers card texas this when paired with early bloomers side-by-side on the food handlers card texas playing field. For example, two boys are both 14; one food handlers card texas looks 9 while the other looks 19! Interesting and amusing as food handlers card texas this may sound, it can create significant health food handlers card texas and safety risks on the athletic field. You might as well have paired food handlers card texas Tinkerbelle against Godzilla!
Reducing the food handlers card texas Risk of Injury to food handlers card texas Late Bloomers:
About 25% of human growth in height food handlers card texas occurs during food handlers card texas. During this time, sports safety should be critically considered, as children are more vulnerable to injury during the food handlers card texas (AGS). As players get older, food handlers card texas stronger and faster, injury rates increase.
There are food handlers card texas measures that parents, food handlers card texas coaches and athletes can food handlers card texas take to help improve player safety:
- Make sure food handlers card texas equipment and safety gear fit your child properly—pads (neck, shoulder, elbow, chest, knee, shin), helmets, food handlers card texas, protective cups, and shoes.
- Coaches and officials food handlers card texas need to enforce strict rules against headfirst sliding in food handlers card texas to prevent head and spine injuries.
- In food handlers card texas, have a zero-tolerance policy for head-first hits and other types of illegal tackles. These food handlers card texas tackles can lead to severe injuries of the head and neck and are the leading cause of severe injuries in football. See the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy statement, food handlers card texas, for more information.
- Expand non-checking food handlers card texas programs for boys 15 years and older, and restrict body food handlers card texas checking to the highest competition levels starting food handlers card texas no earlier than age 15. Coaches are encouraged to food handlers card texas follow zero-tolerance rules food handlers card texas against any contact to the head, intentional or not. Rules preventing body contact from behind, food handlers card texas into or near the boards should also be reinforced. See the AAP policy statement,food handlers card texas, for more information.
- Seek out coaches food handlers card texaswho are well-versed in the nuances of puberty and AGS. Lack of proper coaching food handlers card texas education has also been identified as a key reason why many food handlers card texas occur.
Note: Some early bloomers are actually rather food handlers card texas, or heavier than normal. These food handlers card texas characteristics may make them attractive to coaches for food handlers card texas sports where height or girth is an advantage. However, it is food handlers card texas important to remember that these children still have food handlers card texas immature bones which are susceptible to injury.
A Note About Same-Sex food handlers card texas vs. Coed Sports Teams:
Remember, food handlers card texas the average age that puberty begins is much different for girls food handlers card texas and boys. Around age 13, with a surge in testosterone, most boys are food handlers card texas taller, heavier, faster, stronger, bigger, and more powerful food handlers card texas than most girls. These discrepancies may place food handlers card texas girls at a greater risk for injury and/or at an unfair food handlers card texas disadvantage in sports.
For this reason, parents and coaches may move towards food handlers card texas separating boys and girls over age 12 in sports and food handlers card texas competition, particularly in contact or collision food handlers card texas sports. However, if there is no team for girls in a food handlers card texas certain sport, girls should be allowed to try out for a food handlers card texas spot on the boys’ team (in fact, it’s the food handlers card texas law in some states).
Taking a Balanced food handlers card texas Approach:
To support success during the period food handlers card texas of adolescent growth, given all of the tremendous variations food handlers card texas possible, the proper matching of competition is very important. The unfortunate fact is that today’s society places such a heavy emphasis on winning.
An early bloomer enjoys advantages food handlers card texas simply due to their early size advantage and strength in food handlers card texas comparison to peers. Parents and food handlers card texas coaches can emphasize to young athletes that success depends on developing proper skills and not just relying food handlers card texas on size. In comparison, there are many talented young athletes who are late bloomers food handlers card texas who are funneled out of the developmental pipeline far too soon due to their temporary lack of ability at food handlers card texas these younger ages. Many quit because they perceive their struggles to be a lack of competence food handlers card texas instead of delayed physical growth. There are many famous athletes that were late bloomers: Tim food handlers card texas Lincecum, Tom Brady, Michael food handlers card texas Strahan, Anthony Davis, to name a few.
- Parents: Do not get down if your child is food handlers card texas . The important thing is food handlers card texas that he or she continues to play and to develop, improve food handlers card texas upon themselves, and learn new skills.
- Coaches: Give all players your equal food handlers card texas attention and the playing time each food handlers card texas needs to develop his or her skills.
Talk to Your food handlers card texas Child’s Pediatrician:
Many parents can benefit by having frank discussions with food handlers card texas their pediatrician about their child’s specific food handlers card texas so that they can be properly prepared for the road ahead. Whatever the rate of growth, many young teens food handlers card texas have an unrealistic view of themselves and need to be reassured by their pediatrician that food handlers card texas differences in growth rates are normal.
Additional food handlers card texas Information from HealthyChildren.org:
About Dr. Kowal-Connelly food handlers card texas :
Suanne Kowal-Connelly, food handlers card texas MD, FAAP is a pediatrician with 30 years group practice experience and is a voluntary faculty food handlers card texas staff physician at Nassau University Medical Center mentoring residents. She also cares for food handlers card texas private patients at the Long Island Federally Qualified Health Centers (LIFQHC) in Nassau County. food handlers card texas Within the food handlers card texas American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), she sits on the Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness, the Council food handlers card texas on School Health, and the Section on Obesity. Dr. Kowal-Connelly is a USAT (USA Triathlon) food handlers card texas Level I Certified Coach and a USAT Youth & Jr. Coach. She is also founder of food handlers card texas , where families and organizations food handlers card texas can learn strategies for successful lifelong health and wellness and read her blog. She is also the very food handlers card texas proud food handlers card texas mother of three grown sons. Follow her on Twitter food handlers card texas . Author Suanne Kowal-Connelly, MD, FAAPLast Updated 7/29/2016Source American Academy of Pediatrics food handlers card texas (Copyright © 2016)The information contained on food handlers card texas this Web site should not be food handlers card texas used as a substitute for the medical food handlers card texas care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend food handlers card texas based on individual facts and circumstances.
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