Bad memories always seem to hang around longer than good memories. A mistake in a game can leave a player feeling down. However, good players learn from their mistakes without dwelling on them.

“A hot dog at the ball park is better than steak at the Ritz.”

Humphrey Bogart

As a kid, Alex Rodriguez loved baseball but was a terrible hitter. The coach almost always batted him near the end of the lineup. So, Alex began weight lifting and took extra batting practice until his hitting improved. By the end of high school he had a .419 batting average and was the #1 draft pick of the Seattle Mariners.

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Growing Up is Hard to Do

During most of childhood, a child’s body will increase in weight approximately 50% every four years. Yet, this growth does not always come at a steady rate. Growth can come in spurts for various parts of the body leaving kids, in the short term, gangly, awkward, uncoordinated and fatigued. With time, this extra height and weight will become a playing advantage. If kids grow faster than their peers, then the advantage may increase.

The following table shows the average height and weight for boys and girls from the ages of 5 to 18. Wide variations are common. Kids’ height can vary by as much as 6” at age 5 for kids who will still grow up to be the same size. Girls and boys are very similar in average height and weight until puberty.

Source: National Center for Health Statistics

One of the biggest challenges with growth concerns the times when kids are out of step with their peers. If kids are developing slower, they may feel less confident and will need encouragement to continue playing when they are tempted to quit. Players who develop quicker may become overconfident and lack the work ethic to excel. These players will need encouragement to continue improving. Over time, most physical differences will even out but the process is difficult physically and emotionally. Growing up is hard to do.

For More Information: The complete set of growth charts with percentile variations can be found at the NCHS website: http://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts.

To Be or Not to Be

The intensity and emotion of a close competition can easily carry over into post-game discussions. It is often difficult for coaches to stop trying to manage the game after it is over. However, post-game conversations are not a part of the game. After all, nothing that is said after a game can affect its outcome. Conversations after a game have much more impact on the next practice or the next game. With that in mind, here are five suggestions for coaches for post-game conversations with players and parents:

1. Be patient. There will be plenty of time to address mistakes. Make a list of mistakes made during the game and then set it aside for review before planning the next practice or game.
2. Be positive. Allow the players to celebrate their good plays so that they continue to build their inner desire to improve.
3. Be communicative. Don’t shy away from players or parents after a loss any more than after a win. Changing parental interactions based on the outcome will leave parents assuming the worst about their child or the team.
4. Be objective. Before looking to player mistakes, first look to see if there were other things that could have been done better in preparation or motivation.
5. Be candid. If you made a mistake during the game, don’t be afraid to admit it. If coaches are honest about their mistakes, players are more likely to be honest about theirs.

Parents and players take their cues from the coach. A compliment helps reassure parents of their child’s potential and keeps them from focusing too much on their own judgments. It can even help shape parental conversations in the car on the way home. Good post-game conversations can do more to bring a team together than any conversation before a game.

Don’t Dwell on Your Mistakes

Cal Ripken Jr. is one of baseball’s legends and today players like Alex Rodriguex still look to him as one of their heroes. One of Cal Ripken’s childhood stories is of how his Little League baseball team lost the regional final. Cal gave up a three-run homer and was the losing pitcher. After the game, all the players were crying and miserable, especially Cal. If they had gone home that day it would have been one of their worst memories. But as it worked out, the next day another team took Cal’s team deep sea fishing. Cal had never done that before. It turned out to be a fun time and a great memory.

What would have happened if Cal had gone home the next day and continued feeling bad about the way he played? Would he have quit and not gone on to accomplish a championship career? Players can get too wrapped up in their mistakes and forget to focus on their accomplishments. Players learn from mistakes by understanding them and not by dwelling on them.

The Top 5 Most Overlooked Sports Injuries

Athletes often get used to feeling little aches and pains on occassion, but some minor discomfort may actually be a more serious injury. There are several injuries that are frequently overlooked or misdiagnosed. The following injuries are some of the most commonly missed.

1. Concussion A blow to the head can result in a jarring of the brain that has both short-term and long-term consequences. This injury is getting more attention lately, but is still something many athletes shake-off as not very serious. If left untreated, a concussion can lead to a slow brain bleed. If the athlete has a history of concussion, the damage can lead to long-term problems with memory or other problems. A head injury should always be evaluated by a physician who will test reflexes, coordination, pupils, and perform a cognitive assessment.
2. Achilles Tendon Rupture The Achilles tendon is the largest, most exposed, tendon in the body. It joins the gastrocnemius and the soleus muscles of the lower leg. A rupture occurs when the tendon is partially or completely separated. Because a partial rupture can result in very little pain, it is often misdiagnosed as a strain, or sprain. A classic sign of an achilles tendon rupture is a "popping" sound and a sharp pain in the back of the lower leg. Because this injury does not heal on it's own, it is important to see a physician to confirm the diagnosis
3. Anterior Cruciate Ligament(ACL) Injuries An ACL injury typically occurs when the ligament is stretched beyond its limit and tears. Often misdiagnosed as sprains or collateral ligament knee strains, this injury is common in sports that require abrupt stops and turns (such as soccer, football and basketball). An ACL tear most often requires surgical repair and extensive rehabilitation, so a visit to a physician is critical.
4. Scaphoid Fracture This common wrist injury often occurs from a fall on an outstretched arm. The scaphoid (navicular) is a small bone in the wrist that is one of the 8 carpal bones. This bone sits below the thumb and has a unique blood supply that can be easily disrupted by a fracture. Because the symptoms of a schaphoid fracture are similar to a sprain, it is often overlooked by and athlete and may be misdiagnosed by a physician. Proper diagnosis and treatment is essential for healing.
5. Femoral Neck Stress Fracture A stress fracture in the neck of the femur (large thigh bone) is sometimes difficult to diagnose. This injury is commonly found in runners who have recently increased the speed, length or intensity of their exercise. Women are more susceptible to these stress fractures, possibly due to the angle of the femoral neck. Symptoms of this fracture include vague pain in the groin or thigh region that increases during exercise and increases over time. It is often diagnosed initially as a strain or tendinitis. This injury is not helped by anti-inflammatory medication, hot or cold compresses or stretching. If left untreated, serious joint problems can occur. A trip to a physician is essential because a bone scan may be needed to diagnose this injury. Treatment often includes non-weight bearing exercise such as water exercise (aquatic therapy).

Elizabeth Quinn, sportsmedicine.about.com

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