Overview
Due to the relative lack of body-to-body contact, baseball is a safer youth sports when compared with football and basketball. But there are still risks and injuries associated with baseball. Kids and parents of kids who play Little League baseball should be aware of these risks and take the proper steps and safety precautions.
Significance
Keeping kids safe is more important than winning and should be a top priority for parents and coaches. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), approximately 162,100 baseball players are treated in emergency rooms every year for baseball-related injuries.
Helmet Use
Helmets are an essential parts of keeping kids safe on the field, and players should wear a helmet when batting as well as when running bases. A pitched or struck ball that hits a player in the head could cause serious and even fatal injury. Players in the batter’s circle warming up should also wear a helmet to protect against foul balls and wild pitches. Players and parents may want to consider using a helmet with a face guard in order to reduce the risk of injury to the face.
Stretching
Tearing or pulling muscles is a major concern in any sport, but especially in Little League baseball, where players must use bursts of speed to get from one place to another in a short time. Players should take plenty of time before and during the game to stretch all major muscle groups and make sure their bodies are well warmed up to prevent muscle injuries.
Base Safety
According to the CPSC, approximately 6,600 baseball players are injured every year due to base-contact sliding injuries. One way to reduce the risk of injury is to teach players the proper technique for sliding into a base. No matter how competitive the game, players should not slide with their cleats up in an attempt to move an opponent off the base or to cause injury. Many Little Leagues make it illegal for catchers and runners to collide at home plate, reducing the risk of injury from collision. Special bases also have been designed that leave no holes in the ground or parts of the base sticking up, which can lead to injury as well.
Excessive Pitching
Good pitchers are in high demand in baseball, but even youth with their young, growing bodies can be susceptible to over-training. Pitchers should stay within 80 to 100 pitches for a game, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Too much pitching can wear out a player’s arm and cause serious, even career-ending injuries.
About this Author
James Patterson specializes in health and wellness topics, having written and produced material for the National Institutes of Health, the President’s Cancer Panel, and an Inc. 500 Hall of Fame company. He is also a former sportswriter, with writing experience in basketball, baseball, softball, golf and other popular sports, and writes relevant sports titles.
