At some point in any athlete's career, ranging from 8 years old to 80, injuries do occur.   Sometimes it is simple as a sprain ankle, bruised shoulder, or perhaps worse like a severe muscle strain or broken bone.  These things happen because sports are sports...sometimes people get hurt. 

But when a young athlete, defined as anyone below the age of 18, gets hurt several factors combine all at once to determine a positive or negative outcome.  For this example we will use a sore shoulder from throwing too much. 

Now, the younger heal faster.  There is no doubt about that.  Growing bodies are fast to respond to problems and the situation is resolved quickly....if allowed to heal. 

Fast healing in children is hastened by the "rush rush" attitude to get back to sports. Furthermore, this same "all the time" attitude of play means baseball players will have 100 games during the summer, pretty much hitting the ballfield with the same intensity and duration as the Major League.

So what is the problem?  It is simple.  Although injuries in young athletes occur frequently, they have a great opportunity to heal but often are not given the chance.  Too often as parents and coaches we get focused on a 6th grade championship game like it was the Olympics.  This is by no means to say the moment is not important but if a child is pitching every other game during that 100 game season and is complaining of really bad shoulder pain....is it worth it?

As a therapist, I see this all the time.  Logic states slow down, let things heal, and maybe not play 24/7 everything and allow the body to heal.  We growing bodies are left alone for a few weeks, sometimes only days at time, the healing process (which was very fast as I mentioned) takes place and then all the problems associated with the one injury (and probably others) go away.  The speed at which this occurs is much faster than an adult. 

At the end of the day, likely 75% to 80% of a child's future in sports is pure talent, that natural athletic size and ability that cannot be taught.  Too many young athlete's with very high athletic aptitude are destroyed before they really have a chance to do something with those skills. 

Too often we see a skilled athlete and the instinct to is push "harder and faster."  Along the way, many athletes will fall out because it "feels like a job" or they will do so much damage to their growing bodies that by the time senior year in high school comes around, they are already injury magnets.  The pure athletic machine is now broken....and likely will for life.

So in respects to young athletes in sports, I offer a very simple suggestion.  If they are hurt, don't let them play. If there is no blank space on that calender, the athlete is doing way to much.  Finally, let young athlete's develop at a pace that was designed by nature, not by the latest fad, trend, or pressure in sports.  The system is in there for a reason, let it take its course. 

This video examines the affect of interest rates on loan repayment.

Information regarding how much money is needed for school and how it will impact the future.
 

I am sure at some point in your life you have said the following:

"I am going to workout and eat healthy.  5x a week at the gym and no more junk food." 

It may have not gone exactly like that but something similar probably unfolded.  From the exercise economist standpoint, this is pretty hard if you are starting from scratch.  This is not like working 40 hours a week and then being bumped up to 45 hours.  This is not working at all and then pulling 60+ hour weeks......really tough.

The best recommendation for anyone starting a new routine is think short term progress with the return on a long term investment.  If you are working out to get buff for beach season, lose 20 pounds in a month, or fit into a dress 6 sizes smaller for a wedding in 7 weeks this commitment isn't going to help much.

Sheer passion can get someone to make it a couple of weeks eating healthy and exercising.  This is no different then having a run at the craps table, hitting sevens and making it big.  Eventually, like the casino, the passion (or luck in case of the casino) will run out.  Short term gains are not the goal of a new routine.....the mind has to think long term success. 

So what do you do?  Start small.  Try walking on a daily basis to starting.  Finding the 30 minutes to plan for exercise develops a routine that then can be expanded to gyms, spin classes, aerobics, or whatever.  If you are right now not committing any time to exercising it is highly unlikely you will flip a switch and spend 90 minutes a day.  From an economy of time standpoint that is committing too much finite time resources immediately towards something else.  Start a routine, have a plan, and success will unfold.

The overall message is if you struggle eat healthy and workout regularly committing the time a patience to developing a new routine is far more important that short term gains.  Short term goals are great but they are simply a smaller portion of the bigger picture or long term success.  There are many resources that will help you succeed but none are more important the YOU!

During undergraduate and graduate school, there are many opportunities to get very stressed out.  Tests, papers, quizzes, study material, projects, and the list goes on and on.  Each class has its own requirements, some more work than others, and then some classes that match well with interest and aptitude just aren't so bad.

All that being said, a great deal of collegiate life is spent complaining how there is no time to get anything done.  Stressed out young adults text, facebook, call friends up, or simply sit in a little circle telling one another, "I am so busy...I don't have time talk."

All awhile, each month college students spend tens or even over a hundred hours mindlessly surfing the internet, checking out YouTube clips and updating their facebook status hourly.  Thousands of texts are also exchanged each month, not to mention anytime spent on the phone.  Parties still happen, social life often really isn't a problem, and all awhile there is a sense that there is not enough time to get anything done.

SOME GREAT ADVICE: Stop complaining to everyone how you have no time and just get done what you need to!

Collegiate life is tough but so many hours are wasted on these "mind numbing" activities.  The variety of multimedia devices and social media sites act as sore of a "brain drain."  College students spend so much time updating their facebook status to "too busy to talk....got SO MUCH work to do," yet they will scan people's pictures for hours or look at everyone's favorites videos of the week. 

So, if you are a person who is struggling to stay on task here is a good suggestion.  Put down the phone, save facebook and YouTube for after all work is done, and for goodness sake STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING NO TIME!  Take all that energy and actual time spent complaining about not having any time and.......get your work done.

The governor of New Jersey is set to cut hundreds of millions in aid to public schooling.  At the same time he supports capping the school tuition and fees increases at 4%.  All this in response to a huge budget deficit.

In Georgia, state legislators are also looking to cut spending to public universities in the way of less administration and controlling teachers salaries. 

In Illinois, the massive state budget deficit has sparked debate over a 1% income tax increase to prevent thousands of lay offs and continue current educational standards.

What has gone wrong?

Families spend more than cs their family income percentage today than was spend in the 1960s on education (13% to 27% according to one report).  Interestingly enough, the costs for education (and healthcare) is going up, aid (in both cases) is going down, the market is demanding more educated and prepared students, graduate programs are expanding for more master's and doctorate programs,  and students are accumulating massive debts.

What is wrong with this picture?

At the end of the day, a new generation of working class individuals with massive student loans have less money for purchasing homes, cars, and save for retirement.  This same generation is entering a labor market with 10% unemployment where their high priced educations mean nothing compared to a person in the same field with 20 years of experience competing for the same job. 


If you want to find out more about what is going on, check out my articles at www.suite101.com

I am going to talk about this topic A LOT because as a country we are slowly loosing the ability to educate and care for our own people. 

This is a problem.....as a nation we need to become the solution. 

There is a drive in youth sports that "more is better."  This attitude is particularly taken when there are one or two young athletes on a team that are very athletically gifted.  Whether it is basketball, baseball, football, hockey.....it does not matter, coaches will put their best player in at all times to win. 

In baseball, this usually invovles having a good pitcher throw every game, knowing that the next guy down isn't likely to shut down the competition.  Basketball teams will have that one kid that someday "will make it" supporting coaches and parents to encourage that child to play evey minute of every game.  Furthermore, a 10 year old that shows promise in the 400m free style will spend even more hours each week in the pool.

Often it does not stop here.  If pitching every game for one team is good....then picking up another team or traveling with a select team will really ensure more exposure and athletic talent development.  Basketball is good in the winter but there are also summer leagues and showcases around the country.  Swimming 10 hours a week for one season turns into 25 hours a week 12 months a year.

This is the "proliferation" of youth sports that is getting kids hurt.  Before there were no options for select leagues, travel teams, dozens of specialty camps, private trainers, directed strength and conditioning programs, or even year round play.  If athletic talent is observed at a young age, that child is worked harder and harder to maximize their talent believing in the "more is better" concept. 

In the end, likely 80% of a child's chances of making it to a collegiate or professional level is talent.  Pure, athletic talent that cannot be instructed or gained through a speed training camp.  Another 10 to 15% is likely what is between the ears, the mental toughness that comes with competition but also is developed through a balanced and parent supported life. 

With that being said, overworking a young athlete to maximize potential potentially destroys 95% of what makes that child great at the sport.  Treating a 10 year old baseball game like the Olympics everyday is physically and mentally exhausting.  Young athletes are children.  They are not yet adults and most certainly their skeletal systems are not prepared either. 

It is very important to find balance in sports, still participating at competitive levels but not looking at a single stellar athlete as a machine to produce wins. 

There is a huge misconception that the only way to "exercise" effectively is to have a gym membership, use an elliptical for 30 minutes, and then maybe go through a line of machines that weave their way around glass and stretching mats.  If you are an individual who enjoys this atmosphere.....GREAT!!!  More power to you.  Exercise likely comes very naturally and the time in the gym is more out of "leisure" than "necessity."

Economizing exercise is not necessary for the "gym-aholics" but for many people gathering enough motivation to get off the couch is tough.  Sitting back at the end of the day to "relax" is a far better option that getting on the workout clothes.  This struggle, year after year, ends often in obesity, bone and joint problems, diabetes, etc.  If people are not up and moving they are likely sitting on a soft couch eating, watching the waist line expand and the back fall apart.

In respect to the "economy of exercise" getting the most bang for you buck is most important.  Consider the following:

* Sweating it out on the elliptical burns more calories than walking for the same time period but walking around the block with the dog and family still burns calories, increases bone density, decrease levels of stress hormones, and is 30 less minutes in front of the television

* A $10,000 squat rack is wonderful for football players trying to improve their explosive power.  The same motion benefits everyone as squatting is extremely functional throughout daily activities.  Simply getting up and doing 10 squats a few times a day while sitting at work will improve back strength, decrease postural tension in the mid back and neck, increase circulation, and reduce risk of disc problems from sitting 40 hours a week at work......then another 40 in the car and couch. 

*Buying a "shake weight" will get those arms nice and tone but honestly, how fast will that thing end up in the closet?  Having some small weights around the house or simply stretching and putting the arms overhead can offer some muscular benefits and postural improvements that decrease pain in the neck and keep the upper body strong.  Little arm weights don't hurt either and are relatively inexpensive and can be used anywhere in the house.....particularly in front of the television.

Looking at the "economy of exercise" is important to understand that doing a little has a lot of benefits.

Yes, to lose weight and look like "Hollywood" it is necessary to spend a considerable time in the gym, maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle, dieting, refraining from delicious desserts, etc.  But right now, struggling to get off the couch to do anything is far away from this lifestyle. 

Making small changes will make a big difference.  Giving 20% of the effort may not lose a hundred pounds tomorrow but it will progress you towards having the courage and motivation to make it to 100%.

There is a finally a solid national movement to support smart youth sports.  Dr. Andrews and a bunch of other big names in sports and medicine have come together to enlighten the world about the growing epidemic of youth sports injuries.

http://stopsportsinjuries.org 

This is not a cry for parents to wrap their children in bubble wrap and ask them to look both ways before crossing the baseball diamond.  This movements to for parents, athletes, and coaches to recognize that the number of children showing up in doctor's offices, rehab, and the surgical table is growing.

More is not better....better is better!

The misconception that throwing 24/7 will produce a major leaguer is crazy.  Research says its wrong, common sense supports that as well, and finally a whole movement with dozens of respected members of the national community saying "there is a better way."

Wrecking a child's "sports economy" for some short term gains is not the way to go.  Only ends in depression......figurative and literal. 

The number of injuries in youth sports have been increasing dramatically over the past decade.  The number of travel teams, personal trainers, specialty coaches, etc. are so much more available that as a parent, not utilizing these services would seem an injustice to their child.  As the concept of "more is better" progress, adolescent bodies break due to increased levels of physical stresses.  In baseball, the professional season lasts 162 games over the course of several months.  Even at ages younger than 10, baseball players are matching these numbers in a summer, playing as much as 10 games a week to maximize their talent.  

Big question though......"What is the Culture Doing to the Athletes?"    Something to consider.