Playing it safe in high school sports

Last week, a football player from Poplar Bluff collapsed, and was revived by sports staffers who performed CPR.

The illness wasn't caused by heat or overexertion, but a heart ailment. The young man was fortunate that responders on hand knew CPR and were quick to act. He will need heart surgery to correct the condition, and may return to sports activities at some point in the future.

It was a jolting reminder, however, of sports safety. High school practices began last week.

There is a lot of pressure put on athletes by coaches and parents to perform at a high level. This means putting bodies through rigorous conditioning. There are good lessons of discipline to be learned in competitive sports, but it can be taken overboard. The Missouri State High School Activities Association has regulated practice time to help prevent injury and illness. For example, according to a story published by the Daily American Republic in Poplar Bluff, MSHSAA sets parameters for two-a-day practices. Schools are limited to one practice per day for the first five days, and after that two-a-days can be held only every other day. MSHSAA also regulates the number of practices that must take place before teams can go to full pads.

In more general terms, it's important for athletes to feel comfortable talking to their coaches and parents about injuries and seeking treatment when needed. Concussions, in particular, should not be taken lightly, and there are certainly other injuries that might be prevented with good communication and necessary rest.

A special thank you goes out to all of the coaches who look out for the health of their athletes, and all of the trainers that take good care of them.

We look forward to the upcoming fall sports season. Injuries, unfortunately, are part of the games, but we all want what's best for our student athletes. Good luck to all.