Welcome to High School Football

Sirens & lights used to be the way we would celebrate a touchdown at our youth football program--always a reason to cheer! Yesterday, sirens and lights signified the worst thing you want to see at a high school football game...an ambulance coming to take a player off the field and to the hospital.

The tackle that led to sirens & lights--looks like
any other tackle...and yet, something went wrong.

During my son's freshman football game yesterday, a player from the opposing team appeared to be seriously injured when he was tackled while carrying the ball.  Being the momrazzi that I am, I had photographed the entire sequence of the tackle--never seeing anything out of the ordinary during this event. That said, the player who was tackled
immediately began kicking his legs wildly on the field after our players got off of him. I was very close to him--and had the tact to stop photographing immediately.

After about a 15 minute time out on the field, the boy was taken to the hospital. After picking my son up at his high school (the boys have to take the bus back to the school for away games), he told us his coach got a call that the opposing player had "broken his back" (keep in mind, this is the translation the boys shared--not sure if it was exactly what was told to the coach).  The tackle seemed so typical--not unusual in the slightest! It was the kind of tackle our boys are taught. And yet, in an unusual turn of events, it was a tough tackle for the opponent.  I remember thinking that either he had the wind knocked out of him, or there was a pinched nerve of some sort causing his legs to flail about as they did.  I also thought that hopefully this was a good sign that he could move his legs...but I'm not a doctor.

We can only hope this was a back injury that can be recovered from. After having back surgery myself for a ruptured/bulging disc, I know it is not that easy to recovery from--but in most cases not a life-changing event. I feel for every sports parent out there who has to see his/her child on the field or ice...not getting up.  I've only experienced it three times (twice for my football player and once for my hockey player) and all times my heart just stopped.

Sports injuries in our youth are well documented by several health-related organizations and non-profit groups. The following statistics are the latest available from the National SAFE KIDS Campaign and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP):

• Approximately 3 million children and adolescents ages 14 and under get hurt annually playing sports or participating in recreational activities.
• Although death from a sports injury is rare, the leading cause of death from a sports-related injury is a brain injury.
• Sports and recreational activities contribute to approximately 21 percent of all traumatic brain injuries among American children and adolescents.
• The majority of head injuries sustained in sports or recreational activities occur during bicycling, skateboarding, or skating incidents.
• More than 775,000 children and adolescents ages 14 and under are treated in hospital emergency rooms for sports-related injuries each year. Most of the injuries occurred as a result of falls, being struck by an object, collisions, and overexertion during unorganized or informal sports activities.
• Almost 6 million high school children participate in team sports.
• Children and adolescents between 5 and 14 years of age account for almost half (40 percent) of sports-related injuries for all age groups.
• Approximately 20 million children and adolescents take part in recreational or competitive sports outside of school.
• Approximately 20 percent of children and adolescents participating in sports activities are injured each year, and one in four injuries is considered serious.
• Children and adolescents who are less developed than a more mature child or adolescent of the same age and weight are at increased risk for injury.
• Sports-related injury severity increases with age.
• Before puberty, girls and boys suffer the same risk of sports injuries.
• During puberty, boys suffer more injuries more severely than girls.
• Girls are at higher risk for rollerskating and gymnastics injuries.
• Children and adolescents who are just beginning a sport or activity are at greater risk for injury.

Childrens' Hospital Boston http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site1112/mainpageS1112P0.html

So...welcome to contact sports...welcome to high school football.  A rude awakening to experience--and yet, we continue to want our children to experience all that they can, knowing that no matter what, we are on the sidelines and cannot protect them at this very moment.  Stay safe!!

UPDATE...The player who was injured is apparently doing well. Word is that doctors believe he suffered a severe concussion.  Players report they saw him at the mall and the movies--which is very good news for this football mom!!  At least he is getting around and healing!!