Simple Diet Steps For Overweight Youth Football Players

Dennis Buckley, DC has produced a short YouTube video on how overweight youth football players can lose weight the safe way. Dr. Buckley performs many pre season physicals on youth tackle football players in CA and has noticed that many are over the weight category for the division in which they want to play. Dr. Buckley points out that quick weight loss is unhealthy and that a healthy diet must be approached on a family wide basis to be successful in most cases.

Safe Weigh Loss For Children Specifically For Those Participating In Youth Football Programs This Year

Recertification and Reconditioning of Sports Equipment

We came across an excellent webpage from Riddell on their sports uniforms and equipment reconditioning, and recertification process to meet strict standards for athletic equipment.  This reconditioning process fights bacteria, viruses and mold, which reduces health risks.  Once the process is completed, a final inspection is done to recertify the equipment and uniforms according to the original manufacturing condition.  Click on the following link to see a video and learn more about the benefits of reconditioning and recertification. 

Source: Riddell

Head Injuries and Concussions in Youth Sports

All types of sports carry some type of inherit risk. But what are these risks? For contact sports, a very common occurrence is the concussion (defined by Websters as “a stunning, damaging, or shattering effect from a hard impact; a jarring injury of the brain resulting in disturbance of cerebral function.”) According to the CNN report below, there is increasing evidence that brain damage actually occurs during a concussion.

Participation Question: What are some ways that your local organization has been pro-active in preventing head injuries or putting measures into place to nurture the injury, or prevent further injury, once it has occurred?

Commotio Cordis In Baseball – AED – Chest Protectors – Safety Balls

Commotio cordis or cardiac concussion is a cause of sudden death in young baseball players. It is the result of a low velocity impact to the chest from a thrown or batted ball traveling usually at a speed of between 20-50 mph. The impact must occur directly over the heart, the closer to the center the greater the risk. The cause of death is the development of an abnormal rhythm, ventricular fibrillation, though there may be some affect on the blood circulation to the heart as well. For the catastrophic event to occur, the impact has to be precisely timed to strike the heart during a 15-30-millisecond phase of the electrical cycle (during repolarization or just before the peak of the T-wave).

Commotio cordis is associated with a death rate of 90%. The lack of response of these young health baseball players to CPR is unexpected and remains unexplained, but it is clear that a rapid response is essential. This response is probably required in three-five minutes…….

Batters should learn ball avoidance and turn away from an inside pitch and not open chest to the impact, as is so typically the case. Avoidance while bunting requires special attention. Pitchers as well should be coached in proper fielding positions and ball avoidance when necessary. Chest wall protectors that are commercially available have not been demonstrated to prevent commotio cordis. Studies with baseballs seems to indicate that lighter and softer balls may diminish the risk, but their acceptability for play by older children is of question.

See Report By USA Baseball Medical And Safety Committee on Commotio Cordis in Baseball

In My Opinion: Studies indicate that the chances of survival of a commotio cordis incident is enhanced if a shock from an AED can be delivered promptly. Most ball parks don’t have AED’s and those that do must have well practiced procedures in place for the rapid use of the device or all if for naught. I am often amazed at the marketing efforts by the vendors of chest protectors. It makes sense that they would help but the scientific studies indicate that many don’t offer any protection and may actually be contra indicated. Apparently, most chest protector vendors need to go back to the drawing board with their designs. Also, the recent high profile lawsuit in New Jersey of a pitcher being stuck by a batted ball that came off of an alleged “hot bat” involves commotio cordis and resulting permanent disability to the pitcher. The metal bat manufacturer was sued among others. What is interesting to note is that commotio cordis usually occurs only when a projectile travels at a relatively slow speed between 20-50 mph and in this case the basis for the lawsuit is that the ball speed was too fast as a result of the alleged “hot bat”. John Sadler

Use Of Reduced Impact Ball In Youth Baseball: Safety Balls

“Based on the research performed by USA Baseball and other investigators demonstrating that a reduced impact ball can decrease the incidence and severity of ball impact injuries to less skilled players aged 5-12, the USA Baseball Medical and Safety Advisory Committee recommends: 1. That youth baseball organizations adopt for their Tee-Ball and other “minor league” programs that are focused on skill development, reduced impact baseballs that meet NOCSAE standards levels 1 and 2.

2. This recommendation does not diminish the importance of teaching fundamental baseball skills and ball avoidance skills and techniques for batters.

3. Current scientific literature on the prevention of commotio cordis by chest protectors is not adequate and therefore, the effect of any equipment on the risk of chest impact death remains unsubstantiated at this time.“

See Report from USA Baseball Medical And Safety Committee: Safety Balls

 

 In My Opinion: I know from the ongoing injury study that I perform for my insurance client, Dixie Youth Baseball (ages 12 & under), that three of the leading causes of injury are being struck by batted balls, thrown balls, and pitched balls. The vast majority of injuries that occur in T Ball and Coach Pitch are from being struck by batted balls and thrown balls. These injuries in the lower age groups are primarily caused by lack of skills. Based on my personal observation in working with youth baseball players ages 5-8, players can better learn skills if some of the fear factor is removed. I would say that softer baseballs definitely remove some of the fear factor which can result in more quality practice sessions in terms of repetitions and the development of skills. As players move out of T Ball and Coach Pitch, the skill levels are usually such that the types of injuries that could theoretically be prevented or reduced by reduced impact balls don’t come into play as often. From an injury analysis point of view, it is almost impossible to predict if a reduced impact ball could have prevented or reduced an Accident insurance claim. It is much easier to predict the outcome of other safety equipment such as batter’s face guards or catcher’s throat protectors as they are almost 99% effective in preventing injury.

Pitching Injuries In Youth Baseball: Pitch Counts And Prevention

 Baseball is one of the safest sports available for today’s youth. However, many of the serious injuries suffered by adult baseball pitchers may have begun to develop at the youth level. One of the missions of the USA Baseball Medical & Safety Advisory Committee is to provide scientifically based information to its youth baseball members to reduce the risk of injury and maximize the younger player’s ability to perform and advance to higher levels.

The following recommendations were made for pitch counts, pitch types, pitching mechanics and physical conditioning, multiple appearances, showcases, multiple leagues, year round baseball.

Pitch Counts: Youth baseball should incorporate the practice of pitch counts like high school, college and pro baseball. The primary factors in predicting arm injuries from pitching are the total number of pitches thrown per game, week, season, and year. 

Age specific pitch count recommendations: 

9-10 year old pitchers:
50 pitches per game
75 pitches per week
1000 pitches per season
2000 pitches per year

11-12 year old pitchers:
75 pitches per game
100 pitches per week
1000 pitches per season
3000 pitches per year

13-14 year old pitchers:
75 pitches per game
125 pitches per week
1000 pitches per season
3000 pitches per year

Pitch Types: Previous studies have shown that breaking pitches such as curveballs and sliders place more stress on elbows and shoulders than fast balls. As a result, it is recommended that youth pitchers should avoid throwing these types of pitches.

Pitching Mechanics: Lab studies show that good pitchers at all levels use about the same mechanics and as a result proper instruction should be given to youth pitchers at an early age to avoid undue stress levels on elbows and shoulders.

Multiple Appearances: The practice of allowing a youth pitcher to return to the mound after having been removed earlier in a game is frowned upon.

Showcases, Multiple Leagues, Year Round Baseball: All of these participation opportunities are likely to result in throwing too many balls and the related overuse injuries to shoulders and elbows.

In My Opinion: Having served on the USA Baseball Medical And Safety Committee with Tommy Johns, I overheard him say that more kids now know his name from the so called Tommy Johns’ elbow surgery than from his days as an All Star pitcher in the major leagues. It is a sad state to see the explosion of these surgeries in youth baseball and to learn that many youth actually want this surgery as they mistakenly believe that they will some how be made even stronger then before. At the same time, I know that the media generated by the USA Baseball Medical And Safety Committee study on pitch counts is having a positive impact. My son plays in a youth league and I actually see coaches voluntarily starting to use pitch counts even though they are not mandated by the league.  John Sadler

See Report On Youth Baseball Pitching Injuries By USA Baseball Medical And Safety Committee: http://mlb.mlb.com/usa_baseball/article.jsp?story=medsafety11