Overtraining in one sport can harm youth athletes

My letter to the NJ Star Ledger editor , published on Saturday, October 11, 2014. 

Overtraining in one sport can harm youth athletes: Letter

youth-sports.jpg

In this file photo, Newark Bears players run through drills at their Pee Wee football practice at Weequahic High School in Newark. (Andrew Miller/For The Star-Ledger)

 

Letters to the Editor/The Star-Ledger By Letters to the Editor/The Star-Ledger
on October 11, 2014 at 9:00 AM, updated October 11, 2014 at 9:07 AM

As a chiropractic sports physician who has taken care of hundreds of youth athletes during the past two decades, and a youth sports coach for 10 years, I applaud Mario Colitti's guest column in the Oct. 6 Star-Ledger.
I have seen more injuries in children and teenagers from overtraining due to specialization than from competition. Parents and coaches need to remember that these are not mini-adults and their teams are not the "junior Yankees" or "junior Giants."
Young athletes are in various stages of development in body, mind, and emotionally. Youth sports may be the only time many of them will play and compete in sports. It should be a good experience, not one of stress and injury.
David I. Graber, Mountain Lakes

Link to letter:
 http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/10/overtraining_in_one_sport_for_youth_athletes_can_be_harmful_letter.html

Mario Colitti's guest column:
http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/10/young_children_should_play_multiple_sports_rather_than_specialize_in_one_opinion.html