Parents ...Your Support is Needed NOW

Submitted by Tim Twellman on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 13:32. | comments

I know I speak for your kids when I say "THANK YOU" for everything that you do for them.

These young athletes could never do what they do without the help of their parents and/or guardians.

"THANK YOU" and I know they appreciate it even if they don't say so.

It is that time of year and your son or daughter will be back in school and competing athletically in their sport of choice.

I know I speak for your kids when I say "THANK YOU" for everything that you do for them. No way they could get through all of this without your support, especially as they move on to High School sports.

Emily Cohen

Spectators Must Assume Risk at Youth Sporting Events

Submitted by Emily Cohen on Mon, 06/25/2012 - 22:25. | comments

So it's come to this. A woman hit by a ball while sitting near a Little League diamond two years ago is suing the then-11-year-old player who threw the ball. Elizabeth Lloyd's lawsuit alleges that the errant throw was "intentional and reckless." According to Lloyd, the player, Matthew Migliaccio (now 13) "assaulted and battered" her and caused "severe, painful and permanent" injuries. Really? Assault and battery? Intentional? Can you see my eyes roll? And that's just the first count.

So it's come to this. A woman hit by a ball while sitting near a Little League diamond two years ago is suing the then-11-year-old player who threw the ball.

May Is Sports Moms Month

Tammy Beasley (Diet Specialist): Biggest Lesson Learned As Sports Mom Is Difference Between Failure and Unfortunate

Submitted by May Is Sports Moms Month on Sun, 05/20/2012 - 16:50. | comments

Being the mother of an athlete is a challenging yet rewarding role. So momsTEAM has designated May as Sports Moms Month and is celebrating by asking some of our favorite sports moms to share their wisdom by responding to a series of questions.

So far this month we have heard from a fascinating range of sports moms, from a mom of an Olympic athlete to moms who were themselves Olympic athletes, from a mom of two former minor league baseball players to a Minnesota hockey mom and author.

Today, we hear from sports mom and diet guru, Tammy Beasley:

A sports nutritionist, eating disorder specialist, and sports mom says the biggest lesson her boys taught her was to learn the difference between failure and unfortunate.

Emily Cohen

Do Players On High School Varsity Deserve At Least Some Playing Time?

Submitted by Emily Cohen on Sat, 04/21/2012 - 01:36. | comments

I'm writing this blog under the protestations of my 15-year-old son. He would prefer that I don't write this at all, or that I write it anonymously, so that he doesn't suffer the playing-time repercussions from his coach, but it can't get any worse than it is. And, frankly, I will be completely quiet if someone - anyone - can explain to me the benefits - to the coaching staff, the team record, AND the kids - of having an entire group of players (say, 5 or 6) ride the bench the entire season and see no playing time.

Is it okay for bench-warmers on a high school varsity baseball team to get no playing time whatsoever, even when their team is way ahead? One sports mom is looking for answers.

Preventing Commotio Cordis in Youth Baseball

Young baseball and softball players who receive direct ball impact to the chest wall directly over the heart may develop sudden cardiac arrest, a condition called commotio cordis. Teaching batters to turn away from an inside pitch, and pitchers to react as quickly as possible to a batted ball hit back at them can help reduce the risk, and an AED and a someone trained in CPR should be on site at all times to increase the chances of survival.

Stretching Reduces Risk of Shoulder Injuries In Young Pitchers

A big difference between the forward range of motion of the throwing and non-throwing shoulder increases injury risk. Here is a simple test to identify such difference and a stretching exercise to keep the shoulder balanced.

Youth Sports Heroes of the Month: Armando Galarraga (Cumana, Venezuela) and Jim Joyce (Beaverton, Oregon)

At Detroit's Comerica Park on the night of June 2, 2010, the nationally televised Detroit Tigers-Cleveland Indians game offered children - indeed, Americans of all ages - enduring lessons in compassion and personal responsibility. The teachers were a pitcher, Armando Galarraga, and an umpire, Jim Joyce, improbably thrust into the limelight after years in relative obscurity, and their dignity and grace created a "teaching opportunity" for parents, teachers and coaches who seek to shape children's values through sports.

STOP Sports Injuries Campaign Goal: Prevent Overuse Injuries

Aim of the STOP Sports Injuries campaign is provide parents, coaches and athletes accurate information and tools to prevent, recognize and treat the long-term consequences of sports overuse and trauma injuries to children.

Umpire's Blown Call Provides Coach Teachable Moment

Often when dealing with umpires, parents, and kids (not to mention bosses and co-workers!), being right is only a piece of what's important for a coach. We have to balance correctness with our larger goals. As adults, it is critical that we realize the opportunity every moment affords us, the "teachable moments." As a coach and parent, we always have a choice in how we act and what we say.

Warm-Weather Baseball Pitchers At Greater Risk of Shoulder Injuries and Tommy John Surgery, Studies Find

The extra time high school pitchers living in warm-weather climates spend in baseball activities puts them at greater risk of injuries to their pitching shoulders than their cold-weather peers, finds a first-of-its-kind study published in the February 2011 edition of the American Journal of Sports Medicine.

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