VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Playing sports as a kid can lead to lifelong healthy habits.
Unfortunately, more than 70% drop out by age 13.
A new report published by the American Academy of Pediatrics looks at ways for parents, coaches and clinicians to prevent overuse injuries and burnout.
Report co-author and director of the CHKD Sports Medicine Program Dr. Joel Brenner told 10 On Your Side that “it’really comes down to changing youth sports culture.”
Brenner shares the red flags that can indicate burnout:
- Sleep disturbances
- Mood disorders
- Depression/Anxiety
- No motivation/enthusiasm for sports
Signs of an overuse injury include:
- Persistent pain
- Pain that gets worse getting worse over a few days
Brenner said he and his colleagues, through the AAP, have been working with the NCAA and other professional organizations like the NBA to try to change youth sports culture so that kids and parents don’t feel the pressure specialize in one sport year-round.
“The athletes who succeed are usually the ones who play multiple sports and who usually have some time off.” he said.
The current recommendations are to have at least one to two days off per week from your particular sport and at least two to three months off from that sport per year. That gives the student and the parents a break mentally, physically and financially.
“Remember that the main reason for sports are two things — one, for kids to have fun and [two], to learn lifelong physical activity skills.” Brenner said.
He encourages parents and coaches to focus on wellness and encourage mindfulness tools while avoiding overtraining and overscheduling.
So, pay attention to those long practices and weekend tournaments.
You can read the full AAP report including more tips for parents and coaches here.
