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Report: Contract extension for James Franklin could come on Friday

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Your view: Time for Trump to be ‘normal’

<p>&#8216;Tis the season for gung-ho grunts, personal best platitudes, wind sprints, leg lifts, weight rooms and bring-it-on bravado. School sports training is <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/671661/wvc-athletes-condition-for-long-seasons-in-first-practices-for-fall-sports" target="_blank">here</a>, and first some words of praise.</p><p>We remain in the midst of an obesity epidemic, among adults and children, with all the related health problems and costs.</p><p>Most recently, NPR reported on a study that found osteoarthritis of the knee is twice as common now as it was before 1950 &#8212; and that&#8217;s taking into account body mass index and age differences. One suspect: the sedentary life. Exercise when you are young keeps joint cartilage healthier as you age (though it&#8217;s never too late to start).</p><p>Thus, for many reasons, getting youngsters to get out and move is almost always a good thing, and organized scholastic sports and activities at any grade level are &#8212; or should be &#8212; a safe option assuring adult supervision, particularly in the age of internet distractions instantly accessed anywhere via ubiquitous smart phones.</p><p>Second, the caveat: Organized school sports have an unfortunate record of injury. A few stats from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:</p><p>&#8226; High school athletes account for an estimated 2 million injuries and 500,000 doctor visits and 30,000 hospitalizations each year.</p><p>&#8226; More than 3.5 million kids under age 14 receive medical treatment for sports injuries each year.</p><p>&#8226; Children ages 5 to 14 account for nearly 40 percent of all sports-related injuries treated in hospitals.</p><p>And third, the reminder. Most, if not all, of those injuries can be prevented. And the smart phone and web-ready devices that make it so easy to be inert also are great resources for common-sense advice.</p><p>Here are some tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics:</p><p>&#8226; Take time off, at least one day per week and at least one month per year from training for a particular sport.</p><p>&#8226; Wear the right gear. Players should wear appropriate and properly fitting protective equipment such as pads, helmets, mouthpieces, face guards, protective cups and eyewear. Don&#8217;t assume protective gear will prevent all injuries while athletes perform more dangerous or risky activities.</p><p>&#8226; Strengthen muscles. Conditioning exercises during practice strengthens muscles used in play.</p><p>&#8226; Increase flexibility. Stretch after games or practice; incorporate stretching into a daily fitness plan.</p><p>&#8226; Use proper technique. This should be reinforced during the playing season.</p><p>&#8226; Take breaks. Rest periods during practice and games can reduce injuries and prevent heat illness.</p><p>&#8226; Play safe. Strict rules against headfirst sliding (baseball and softball), spearing (football) and checking (in hockey) should be enforced.</p><p>&#8226; Do not play through pain.</p><p>&#8226; Avoid heat illness by drinking plenty of fluids before, during and after exercise or play; decrease or stop practices or competitions during high heat/humidity periods; wear light clothing.</p><p>So, yes, let the school athletes get moving, but don&#8217;t get stupid.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Tashawn Qualls hands off the ball during GAR football team practice at the Moyallen St. field in Wilkes-Barre. 8/15/17. Sean McKeag | Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_GAR-Practice1-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Tashawn Qualls hands off the ball during GAR football team practice at the Moyallen St. field in Wilkes-Barre. 8/15/17. Sean McKeag | Times Leader</caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>

Our view: Start of school sports season calls for common sense precautions