Basic HTML Version
DON’T THROW
THE BABY
OUTWITH THE
BATHWATER
S
port and injuries go hand in hand. There isn’t a
person who has played regular active sport who
hasn’t had an injury of some description as a
result of participating in their chosen sport. Injuries
can come from a number of sources – poor equipment
or playing surfaces, opponents actions, or they can be
self-inflicted, such as an overzealous tackle. Some are
preventable, whilst others are just an expected part of
participating in the sport, such as turning an ankle in
basketball.
We all have a duty to try to prevent accidents where we
can. We should make sure that equipment and playing
surfaces are in good order and that the participants stay
within the rules of the game. Where it becomes evident
that a particular move or action can regularly result in
serious injury, administrators of the sport should look to
see whether an amendment to the rules would eliminate or
reduce the risk without changing the fundamental nature of
the sport.
The risk of injury applies equally to children and adults who
participate in sport. According to a report published in March
last year by the Department of Health and Human Services
in the USA, sports-related injuries make up about 20 percent
of all injury-related emergency department visits among
children aged 6 to 19. An estimated 12 million individuals
between the ages of 5 and 22 years suf fer a sport related
injury in the USA annually, which leads to 20 million lost days
of school and approximately US$33 billion in health care
costs. The report concludes;
‘While health benef its are derived from spor ts and
recreational activities, there are also risks, including
sports-related injuries. These injuries range from minor
sprains and strains to more serious injuries such as broken
bones and concussions. The direct medical bills resulting
from sports injuries are substantial.’
Naturally the risks need to be evaluated and mitigated where
possible, but competitive sport is overwhelmingly a good
thing and should be promoted not undermined. Certainly
we need to continue to analyse the ef fect of certain sports
on the bodies of younger children and introduce rules that
enable them to participate as safely as possible. But there is
a growing and worrying trend that seems to be suggesting
that competitive sports are detrimental to children from a
physical and mental perspective.
In December last year a two-day seminar organised by
Queen Mary, University of London focused on whether the
government could do more to protect children injured in
school sporting activities. Attendee’s at the event, which
included doctors, professional players and public health
experts expressed their concerns about youngsters getting
injured in school sport. Public Health Research Author,
Professor Allyson Pollock said:
“The occurrence of injury in competitive sport at school is
high….. There can also be emotional harm around issues of
conf idence, competitiveness and performance.”
“The government and schools want to increase levels
of physical education, with competitive spor t as an
unquestionable good to improve f itness and physical
conf idence, but the negative impacts are wholly ignored.
Current government policy sidesteps the need to address the
risk of physical and emotional harm.”
EDITOR’S
NOTE
STEVE BOUCHER
2
|
TOUCHLINE
ISSUE 20 | MARCH 2015