Early Specialization/ Overuse Injuries.

You should research Tommy John surgery for high school baseball players. What started out as something for aging pros is now being performed regularly on teen pitchers. Some even go so far as saying they throw better after the surgery than before and are opting for it when may not be medical necessity.

 

A former teammate of DS had played club for years. First day of freshman (HS) team practice, he tears his ACL. Doesn't return to club for 8(?)+ months. Gets through club season with no problem. First day of sophomore team practice, tears ACL again.

Hasn't played since that I know of. Never returned to club.

 

You can swap out basketball for any number of other sports and the story would be the same. The tough part is the overuse and the mental burnout don't happen overnight, it's cumulative over time. It may be too late when you finally recognize it. Parents need to put their foot down when the kid or their coach doesn't want to ease off the gas.

 

Do you think it was cumulative overuse over the years or was it related to his workload in the HS years?

 

It is my understanding meniscus injuries are not overuse injuries but are trauma injuries.

My youngest son tore a meniscus last September, the injury sidelined him for the remainder of the college season. Had surgery the first week of October, rehabed from October thru January and played the spring season and this summer.

Meniscus injuries are quite common, I know at least a half a dozen other college players who have had one, some where back playing within 5-6 weeks.

 

If youth players are getting injured at such an alarming rate that again is a coaching issue. Educate your coaches, bring in people who know what they're doing, educate yourselves. Young players should not be run into the ground when they are learning the game. Absolutely ridiculous

 

The clubs and coaches certainly share some blame in this. It's not like this is super secret research they haven't seen. And if you're holding yourself out as a professional, particularly in developing players, and either aren't aware of this or ignore it, then you're not very good at your job. Many at least pay lip service to the idea of playing multiple sports and/or taking meaningful breaks throughout the year even if they don't run things that way.

But in many ways they're just reacting to the wishes of the parents. The reality is that the kids can improve very quickly in the short term with this system. When you watch a 10U/11U team that only plays soccer 12 months a year at a tournament, they look good! It doesn't matter that, if you fast forward 5-6 years, many of these kids will have already peaked or be dealing with the diminished physical abilities described in the articles above. Parents see the immediate results and think "if we did that, we could be just as good" and the clubs are happy to provide additional programming.

 

I agree that much of this is driven by parents, but again that comes down to weak coaches pandering to the demands of parents. Parents believe that focusing on another sport during the break will set their kids back from the players that train all year around. Focusing on another sport allows recovery from burnout, mastery of different motor patterns, and developing of new muscle groups.

It's not rocket science.

 

True, I'm not minimizing the role of the coaches/clubs in this situation. Whether it's pandering to parents who they know are wrong about this or creating an environment where where they imply kids will fall behind if they don't train all year, it's bad form and doesn't speak well of their knowledge or willpower. It's much easier (and lucrative) for them to schedule 4 indoor tournaments, complete with one night of week for training, than it is to tell the kids to go play basketball for 2 months and we'll reconvene in the Spring even if they know that's better for everyone in the long run. It's also on the parents to do a little homework and call the coaches/clubs out on this stuff when they're wrong. After all, no one is more responsible for your kid's well-being than you are.

 

I disagree. At most it's 50/50 between parents and coaches. DS played MS soccer (fall) and basketball (winter) in addition to club soccer. He did that for 6th & 7th grade years with no issue.

In 8th grade, they got a new BB coach. The week before Christmas break, the coach announces mandatory practices during the break. We immediately emailed him and said we would be out of town at a soccer showcase. When we returned from break, DS was benched for two games for missing practice.

During DS's 7th grade year, club soccer was in the fall as well as school soccer. We asked his club coach about missing practice to attend school games and the coach said "nope".

I say this to point out COACHES play a big part in what else kids are allowed to do.

 

I think it's up to the parents to say yes or no.
I think it's up to the coaches play the kids who show the most commitment.
There's a balance somewhere in between. Miss practice becasue there is something else to go to that takes priority, then expect to play less. Allowing child to play injured, then expect more injuries.

 

One thing I'd add is that it's also important for the coach to clearly state expectations. If you expect a player to be at every event, regardless of what else is going on, state that upfront. People don't have to agree with it, but they should at least know the expectation going in so they can make an informed decision.

 

What a surprise.

Ultimately, the coaches play no part in what the kids do. If a kid wants to play another sport then they will. If the kid wants to favour one sport over another, they will. These are personal choices.

Provided the child understands the clubs expectations then there should be co griping over getting dropped. Why should your child play over a child who has missed no practices? Children should play other sports. However, you seem to expect that your child gets preferential treatment even after they choose one club over another.

If I had a parent calling me up to say a player was missing training to play for the school, I'd be asking them to prioritise their child's football. If I had a parent calling me up to say they'd be missing training to play another sport, I'd ask the child to prioritise their sporting commitments.

Game time comes with hardwork, dedication and passion. Unfortunately, may parent's like you can't see beyond the needs of your own offspring.

 

Your bias is showing. No surprise. I have no problem with coaches saying if you don't come to practice, you sit. Have had it happen multiple times.

What I have a problem with is calling a mandatory practice a week before a school holiday. I don't think it's unreasonable to assume some might have plans made.

The bolded is the key. I don't want preferential treatment, but I do want fair notice/treatment.

Or do you think it's ok for a coach to say on Friday "OK, we're practicing tomorrow. If you don't make it, you can't play."?

 

Quoting again because I can't edit and wanted to add to my thoughts.

If coaches don't allow for an "off season" (I'm not talking a couple weeks here and there), then they ARE contributing to the "early specialization".

 

I struggle with your stance…you flat out state coaches play no part in what kids do….then, go on the write 3 paraphrases on how coaches influence what kids (and their parents) might decide what to do…

If coaches set polices that actively favor specialization, even if under the guise of commitment/prioritization, then they are playing a part in the decision making process….if you are the one setting the standards, then you are part of the process…

 

Thank you for saying it better than I. The bolded is the point I was trying to make.

 

I think this is why youth sports have gone out of control in terms of $$, overuse injuries, etc. Coach/Club says player has to do more or else. There's a point where parents just need to choose the or else route.

 

Of course there are clubs that have the expectation that you prioritise football as your first sport. However, it is the child/parents choice to follow that path. There are other clubs that do not demand the same dedication to the sport.

If you're not happy with a club that expects priority over other sports then take your child to an all-inclusive, less demanding club.

Additionally, If you haven't already, I can recommend reading Rousseau's theories on free will. I think they'll prove very enlightening.

 

That’s the problem with general advice…it often glosses over the subtleties and/or realities of the real world.

Just leave, with it accompanying lecture on free will, might be great or appropriate advice in cases where you have numerous clubs/options to choose from….however, it becomes far less satisfying or helpful in cases where people have limited options/clubs from which to choose.