Seeking To Make Youth Sports Safe - safety measures and standards for youth sports

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), July, 2001 by P. David Halstead

Protective equipment, standards, and common sense are keys to preventing serious injury.

ORGANIZED youth sports in the U.S. and most of North America are relatively safe endeavors in which the benefits far outweigh the risks. On the individual level, even less-organized sports have enormous physical and emotional benefits that, in all but the most extreme cases, weigh in favor of the activity. That is not to say that life-altering catastrophic events never occur. Although rare, terrible sports-related tragedies do happen. Most are preventable by making a concerted effort on many fronts. Of the preventive measures available, proper training, coaching, supervision, and quick medical care are almost always the key steps to be taken. It is the role of protective sports equipment, those who build it, and the organizations that create the methods to judge their potential effectiveness to be the final defense in minimizing the occurrence of tragic events. Even under the best circumstances, there are times when nothing can prevent heartbreaking injuries or even death.

Standards in North America usually can be described as falling into one of several categories. Government (such as those mandated by the Consumer Products Safety Commission) and voluntary or industry standards are the most common. Of voluntary standards, the ones that are mandated by a particular governing body seem to be the most effective. As an example, if a piece of personal protective equipment is required for some type of play, like a Hockey Equipment Certification Council (HECC)-certified helmet by USA Hockey (the national governing body), it is a good bet players will wear such equipment because the roles prohibit participation without doing so. Governing bodies, however, rarely write or create such standards because that is not in their area of expertise. Rather, they will rely upon other organizations, such as the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), which has over 30,000 members and is well-respected for its consensus standards, to arrive at a viable and effective one.

Others, such as the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE), operate using a smaller format. This more-limited group is capable of setting standards much more quickly than the consensus approach allows. It could be argued that this second approach involves less input from concerned parties, but a "public" review period prior to actual implementation eliminates most of this criticism. On the plus side, these smaller groups can sometimes act in the best interest of the athlete with less political maneuvering from outside groups that may fear the effects of any change in a standard. Both approaches can and do work very well.

Some of the most effective systems use yet another layer to implement standards. HECC, for instance, does not set standards, but instead will adopt for use those set by, say, ASTM. HECC then will oversee the certification process that must be successfully completed in order to earn the mark of the Council. In these cases, the governing bodies will require that the products be marked as such by HECC before they can be used for competitive play. For example, USA Hockey requires that helmets and face shields be certified by HECC in order for them to be worn for play in a league under its oversight and/or control.

The act of setting standards is complex and can be difficult. The process involves the cooperation of many, but is rewarding when a standard that may save a life or prevent a catastrophic injury is implemented. Almost anyone can participate in this process. If you have an interest in doing so, simply contact the certifying or governing body for this activity and pitch in. Even if you have no technical know-how, but simply love and understand the sport, your input will be welcome.

Protective equipment can range from a simple batting glove to a sophisticated head-protection system. Typically, standards are only prepared for those items that can affect the incidence or magnitude of a serious injury. For instance, there are no standards on athletic supporters, shin guards, or shoulder pads. Some actions for these products are underway in a variety of organizations, but the perceived need is less than in areas like head protection. It is important to note, though, that these nonstandardized devices can and usually do work well.

Some very important pieces of nonstandardized equipment seem to have fallen off the radar screen in recent years--genital protectors. Even though they are available for male and female participants of contact sports, I am informed on a regular basis by coaches and parents that these devices are no longer in widespread use. Injuries to these delicate tissues are not only painful, but can have significant effects on the lives of those injured, as well as their families. The protective devices currently on the market are effective and should be used in contact sports.

While I am not an expert in child development and do not know exactly when youngsters should begin to wear genital protection, I am convinced it should be a part of the protective wardrobe from an early, pre-pubescent age. In the case of athletes engaged in high-speed water sports (water ski jumping, barefoot water-skiing, or riding some types of personal water craft), protection, even if in the form of a wet suit of substance, is very important. In some cases, female athletes may be more at risk from the hydraulic effects of high-speed water sports than males. Children involved in martial arts should begin to use genital protection at the outset of contact.