Adults, get a grip! A high school pitcher in Rochester, Wa., recently threw 194 pitches over 14 innings in his district tournament game, and the best excuse his coach came up with was that he didn’t think the kid was tired. Dr. James Andrews, who performs the infamous Tommy John elbow operation for major league pitchers, says many of the problems with the big leaguers can be traced to injuries from youth baseball. He and other experts recommend that young pitchers take several months off each year from throwing, and instead develop other muscles by playing a variety of sports. Fat chance of that happening in this age of ultra-competitive select sports.
The mantra for young athletes today is work hard, play more, get more exposure to college and professional scouts and coaches, and get recognized. Big-time recruiters who used to show up only at high school games now are seen at grade school showcase tourneys. There is a lot of time, money and energy invested in children’s athletic careers, which makes it hard for them to take time off because they are so afraid of disappointing their parents, coaches and teammates. And it encourages them to work and play through pain when they should be resting and rehabbing.
When kids play unsupervised, unstructured sports, overuse injuries are rarely seen. It’s only when adults step in that the focus changes from playing for the love of the game to a win-at-all-costs mentality, with college scholarships and the pros becoming the Holy Grail. Many kids quit playing sports by middle school because it is no longer fun.
I fully understand the potential value of sports: learning new skills; learning the value of hard work and persistence; learning how to be a good winner and loser; teamwork; and having fun with friends and making new ones. But I think you can learn those lessons playing 15 games a season, not the 60 to 80 baseball games traveling teams play each summer. I’d rather kids have plenty of time to go on family vacations, go to non-sports-related summer camps and have some free time to follow their own interests. It infuriates me when girls can’t come to my summer camp because their soccer or cheerleading coach won’t let them miss practice that week. Parents have to beg to get their kids a few days off to go on vacation with their families.
Parents, take charge! Make participation in sports, or any activity, first and foremost about having fun. Take charge of your time: only one sport and team a season. Have your child take months off for any sport they engage in, and encourage your budding athletes to try non-sports activities like art or theater. Help them become well-rounded and balanced in their lives. Ensure that most nights you can sit down to dinner as a family and can have unsupervised, unstructured play. Don’t allow your family to get caught up in the frantic, competitive rat race that youth sports have become. Let balance, moderation and common sense prevail.
[Tim Jordan, M.D., is a Behavioral Pediatrician who specializes in counseling girls ages 6 through college. For more information, go to drtimjordan.com.]
