News+Article-+The+Danger+of+Sports

 __The Danger of Sports__

With the start of high school comes the participation of many students in sports. At Hopewell Valley especially, there are many student athletes as it is the most popular extracurricular activity. Many of the sports not only have a varsity and junior varsity team, but a freshmen team that helps to develop players. However, more and more students are becoming injured because their bodies cannot handle the more vigorous exercises entering high school.

The athletic trainer’s office is inundated with athletes from all sports and of all grades. The truth is that more and more teenagers are lacking the proper skills and strength training. Strength training whether it is in the weight room or training facility improves the body’s ability to handle certain strains and helps mitigate injury. This is important when most of the sports high school has to offer are contact sports. The vast majority of injuries in sports occur during player-to-player contact.

Football is considered to be the most dangerous sport by some, with tackling and fighting through players to score a touchdown. Over the years, equipment has improved making the sport safer, but how much improvement in technology would be needed to eliminate injury? It would be impossible. Rules can be changed to more strict play, but football is a contact sport and that cannot be changed. The only way the sport can be made safer is if the players are more prepared going into the season and coaches teach proper technique when blocking and tackling.

Other highly dangerous sports are ice hockey and lacrosse. Ice hockey also requires a player to wear protective gear such as pads and helmets, but every factor of the game is dangerous. Playing with a puck that causes serious bruising when hit, checking an opposing player to get the puck back, and the environment in which the game is played, provide no safe aspect for the game. The hard surface of the rink and the glass of the wall make an even harder impact when a player is it. Lacrosse is a similar sport with the amount of contact, but there are no walls to absorb an impact, and the grass provides a much softer surface to fall.

Sports that are also injury prone are soccer and basketball. The sharp angles that an athlete is required to run put a strain on certain ligaments and tendons. Soccer especially is known for causing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears. Getting tangled with an opponent or kicking the ball the wrong way could cause a pop in the knee. Basketball also has many common injuries because it is such a fast paced game. Jumping for shots, sliding on defense, and rushing for rebounds all make the game exciting but also causes more opportunity to get injured. Sprained ankles, jammed fingers, or knee injuries are just a common few, while there is growing number of reported concussions in basketball and soccer.

Even the sports that are not known for being as physical can cause athletes a great deal of pain. In baseball and tennis, the overuse of the arm can impair the shoulder or elbow or cause tendonitis. Swimming is also similar with the constant motion of the arms. Swimmers run the risk of injuring their shoulders with each stroke through the water.

Cross-country and track & field are two strenuous sports that require a runner to push past limits and run faster. They have great endurance, but the pounding on hard surfaces can cause shin splints, especially if the proper footwear is not worn. Any sport for that matter can cause shin splints while training if the proper attire is not worn.

Athletic director and coach Mr. John McGinley has seen countless athletes get injured in all sports due to a variety of causes. “In many sports players are often hurt or "banged" up.” The extent of the injury can vary sometimes allowing the athlete to continue playing. However “if they are injured due to a bone break, concussion, or bad sprain, then they can't play.” Getting injured is pretty much a part of every sport. “It can come from over use, or contact with an opponent, or simply cutting or turning in an awkward manner.” Over the years, Mr. McGinley has learned “as a coach you know going into a season that you will be missing 5-10% of your players at some point” due to injury. He also believes it is crucial to identify a pain immediately and have someone check it out. Mr. Tim Coyne, athletic trainer here at Hopewell Valley, is a part of everyone’s team. He ensures a player returns to their sport as soon as they are healthy to keep a team on the right path for success in a season.

Whitney Bickford, a senior at Hopewell Valley and a three- season athlete, has had her fair share of visits to Mr. Coyne’s office. “I have a reoccurring back pain that I get treated by TC. I ice and use heat stimulation to control the pain, but it is sometimes difficult when there are a lot of athletes that need help as well. There are always track people in the whirlpool dealing with shin pain or soreness. There are also swimmers icing their shoulders and different people getting taped.” Tape can help stabilize the injury whether it is an ankle or wrist pain, but taping too much could cause reliance. It is also important an athlete works the injured muscles in addition to treating it because stronger athletes are less prone to injury. Whitney also states, “it is difficult to deal with an injury, but I can’t imagine not playing sports. Sports have been a huge part of my life and being hurt is only a minor setback.”

Whitney is not the only athlete that has this attitude about sports. Any athlete that enjoys the rush of competition or the friendships involved with being part of a team will continue to fight their way back from any challenge. So with the end of one season and the beginning of the next, it is important athletes take all necessary precautions to stay healthy and strong. No sprain, strain, or pain will stop an athlete no matter how dangerous the sport may be.