McGraw-Hill OnlineMcGraw-Hill Higher EducationLearning Center
Student Center | Instructor Center | Information Center | Home
Career Opportunities
Flashcards
Chapter Objectives
Chapter Overview
Multiple Choice Quiz
Interactive Activities
Questions
Feedback
Help Center


Essentials of Athletic Training Cover Image
Essentials of Athletic Training, 5/e
Daniel Arnheim
William Prentice, University of North Carolina
Young Athletes

Chapter Overview

  • The extent to which young athletes train and compete must be carefully monitored to avoid physical and emotional injuries.
  • The estimated number of young people engaging in some sport in the United States is 46 million.
  • A major concern to some parents and professionals is the stress placed on the young body from intense sports competition and training.
  • All youth sport participants should be matched by physical maturation, weight, size, skill level, and experience.
  • Young athletes can positively respond to some types of conditioning exercises, if the exercises are properly supervised and conducted.
  • Activities such as falling, jumping, landing on straight legs, repeated hard throwing motions, running very long distances, and lifting heavy weights may produce injuries to the immature musculoskeletal system.
  • Children are not miniature adults; coaching must be based on their emotional and cognitive level.
  • Separation of genders in sport activities needs to occur only when boys have attained greater muscle mass in proportion to their body weight.
  • Enjoyment of an activity, rather than winning at all costs, must be stressed to children as the most important factor in sports participation.
  • An overzealous coach can cause the young athlete great emotional stress.
  • Coaches participating in youth sports must be trained in techniques and skills, safety and injury prevention, first aid, and growth and development.
  • Coaches should be certified.
  • Each year more than 775,000 young athletes under 15 years of age are treated for sports-related injuries.
  • Young athletes are prone to the same injuries that the mature athlete is, but they must also contend with injuries to their skeletal growth centers.
  • Injuries to young athletes can be avoided through proper conditioning and supervision, proper matching, use of proper equipment, and competing under appropriate rules of competition.
  • Young athletes must be encouraged to practice good health habits.








Copyright2002 McGraw-Hill Higher Education
Any use is subject to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
McGraw-Hill Higher Education is one of the many fine businesses of The McGraw-Hill Companies.