National Athletic Trainers’ Association hosts youth sport specialization awareness week
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The National Athletic Trainers’ Association has announced the creation of youth sport specialization awareness week, which takes place this year from Oct. 17-21, according to a press release.
The National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) highlighted the risks of early sport specialization, and offered the following guidelines for those involved in youth sports:
- delay specializing in a single sport for as long as possible;
- participate in one organized sport per season;
- do not play a single sport more than 8 months per year;
- young athletes should not participate in sport more hours per week than their age;
- plan for a minimum of 2 days off per week; and
- take time away from organized sports after each season.
“We are committed to educating parents, coaches, athletic directors, school superintendents and others to help reduce risk of injury with the best recommendations and practices in place,” Kathy Dieringer, EdD, LAT, ATC, president of NATA, said in the release. “Having an athletic trainer on the sideline of school teams is one critical element to keeping athletes safe, yet only 37% of U.S. public high schools have access to a full-time athletic trainer,” Dieringer added.
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