Youth Sports Reform Essay

Youth Sports Need Reform According to Safe Kids USA, about 3.5 million children fourteen years old and under are treated for sports-related injuries each year. Nearly half of those injured were deemed preventable (“Half of Youth Sports,” 2011, para. 3). In recent years youth sports have become extremely more advanced as today’s young athletes compete at higher levels. These athletes compete in sports that involve rigorous training, which often comes with risk. As young athletes become more advanced, sports must be reformed due to the multitude of preventable injuries, external pressures put on athletes, and the failure to implement preventative measures. Youth sports have become known as a part of growing up and as something that builds

Youth sports are defined as “adult-organized sports programs for children and youth … which have designated coaches, practices, and scheduled competitions (Feltz, 2001, para 1). Examples of well-known youth sports organizations include Little League International, AAU basketball, i9 sports, and Babe Ruth Baseball. According to Baylor University, organized youth sports officially began in New York City during 1903 (Cox, 2011, p 9). In recent years, however, these sports have become more rigorous and intense. Youth athletes at the top of their age ranks are now being expected to travel long distances to compete with others with similar skill sets. There may be an instant where within one family, one child is traveling hundred miles one direction while another child and parent is heading hundreds a miles in another direction(Tlan, 2017, para 8). This is not only problematic due to fatigue but also is a burden to parent’s pockets. A study conducted by CNBC found that nearly 60% of US families say youth sports are a “financial strain” (Schiff, 2022, para. 1). Thus, when speaking of youth sports today, it is common to see parents across the country spending thousands of dollars for their children to compete in

A common issue that has risen among youth athletes is overuse injuries. Specialization in one sport at a young age has assisted this issue: "The dynamics of youth sports have changed over the years. No longer does a talented athlete play all sports and move from one sport to another as the seasons change. Now these child athletes… specialize in a single sport year round, and they participate on multiple teams in multiple leagues" (Bach & Schilling, 2008, para. 4). When an athlete plays one sport year-round, their body is being overexposed to the same motions. Examples of common injuries caused by these same motions include rotator cuff tendonitis, apophysitis, and stress fractures (Friesen, Saul, Kearns, Bachynski, & Caplin, 2018, p. 152). Many leagues have overuse injury prevention measures in place, but when players participate in multiple leagues, these are not relevant. As mentioned, competitive athletics often result in similar movements being performed by athletes. Common repetitive motions in sports include, but are not limited to, pitching a baseball, swinging a golf club, and throwing a javelin. Perhaps the most famous repetitive motion overuse injury is corrected by the Tommy John surgery. This is used to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament, which is located on the inside of the elbow (Tommy John Surgery 2021, para 1). While this used to