Rec Sports

Experts warn of sports injuries in young athletes: Mom Squad

Experts said overuse injuries are on the rise as more and more young athletes hyper focus on one sport. CLEVELAND — Every year, millions of children and teens across the United States lace up their cleats, grab their gear and hit the field as part of organized sports programs. According to the National Safe Kids […]

Published

4 weeks ago

May 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Experts said overuse injuries are on the rise as more and more young athletes hyper focus on one sport.

CLEVELAND — Every year, millions of children and teens across the United States lace up their cleats, grab their gear and hit the field as part of organized sports programs.

According to the National Safe Kids Campaign and the American Academy of Pediatrics, around 30 million young athletes participate in youth sports nationwide.

But with that enthusiasm comes a concerning trend: Injuries.

Recent statistics show that more than 3.5 million children under the age of 14 annually suffer injuries related to sports or recreation. Alarmingly, one in four of these injuries requires medical attention due to the severity.

Health professionals are now raising red flags about overuse injuries.

“The big two key factors were overuse injuries were greatly increased by early specialization because of the higher volume of very specific training in the same mode,” said Mike Fleming, Athletic trainer. “The second one would be the psychological impact—shorter careers, early burnout… walking away from the sport you hyper-focused on and not liking it anymore.”

These overuse injuries often affect knees, shoulders, elbows and ankles, particularly in children who dedicate themselves to a single sport year-round. Specialists say the constant repetition without sufficient rest or cross-training places intense strain on young bodies that are still developing.

The advice from trainers and pediatric experts? Diversify. Playing multiple sports throughout the year can reduce injury risks and help young athletes build a broader range of physical and mental skills.

“Versatility is the best ability,” Fleming added. “Training in different types of sports can really pay off in the long run.”

Link

Rec Sports

OKC Thunder’s greatest strength is youth entering 2025 NBA Finals

Mark Daigneault thought he’d walk away unscathed, unbothered to deliver his signature platitudes on the biggest night of his young team’s lives. Wrong. As he spoke to ESPN’s Lisa Salters at midcourt, his reward for helping the Oklahoma City Thunder reach its first NBA Finals since 2012 on Wednesday, he was reminded of the nature […]

Published

3 minutes ago

May 31, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Mark Daigneault thought he’d walk away unscathed, unbothered to deliver his signature platitudes on the biggest night of his young team’s lives.

Wrong.

As he spoke to ESPN’s Lisa Salters at midcourt, his reward for helping the Oklahoma City Thunder reach its first NBA Finals since 2012 on Wednesday, he was reminded of the nature of the group he’s coaching. The Disney Channel vibes they emanate. These PG-13, bought-in 20-somethings whose defense is rated R.

“They’re professional,” Daigneault started, listing the reasons why their regular season success translated to June. “They’re high character …”

He paused. Sophomore guard Cason Wallace wrapped him in a towel like E.T. A hat spawned atop his head, too. Center Chet Holmgren’s hand reached to cock it sideways.

“They’re idiots,” he continued, smiling.

That idiocy is among the intangibles that got them here. The innocence of their youth has allowed them to enjoy each other’s company, unlike how many teams exist. That they play almost not to disappoint each other is palpable.

“They’re special,” Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said of his teammates. “The biggest thing is they make the NBA not feel like a job. And it can at times with all the travel and all the hard days, ups and downs — I know I sound spoiled being in the NBA and complaining about hard days, but these guys really make you feel like I’m a kid playing AAU basketball (at) 15 years old again.

“They make it seem like it’s just fun. And I think that’s what makes us really good, like we have so much fun being out there together. And I’m sure we all know that when you’re having fun with things, you give it your all, and you excel at it because you enjoy it.”

Look at the group. There are bubble babies, whose first taste of the league came then or afterward. The CBA babies, assembled with the picks garnered in awareness of this new deal. Unheralded players and second-rounders nearly across the board. A crew with similar struggles and chips on their shoulder in a place that vets players based on how those obstacles might shape them.

For most of them, all they know is each other. Perhaps the misstep was thinking their youth was their kryptonite instead of a weapon. These AAU NBAers have mostly been on the same timeline, chasing the feeling of this unit. Shaped by their lives almost being tethered.

Among those older or with different experiences is Alex Caruso, who experienced what a championship team looks like, and was tactically chosen as the voice that could communicate to these whippersnappers what they need. There’s Isaiah Hartenstein, also acquired by the Thunder last summer, who played with his share of superstars and knew what they needed. Out of a bruiser, out of a big man, out of a teammate.

That’s why general manager Sam Presti mostly left this core untouched. If the phrase “additive” was ever thrown around as it relates to acquisitions, it might’ve teetered more toward intangibles than basketball fit. Presti knows how to make basketball fit. He’s now seemingly mastered how to make the people fit. How to not taint what feels so uncommonly pure.

“Everybody in our locker room is grateful and humble, respectful, kind, professional, and it allows everybody to operate at full capacity,” Daigneault said. “And we don’t take that for granted. I don’t take that for granted.

“And you ask, why? I think it’s where they come from. It’s their families. It’s their circles. … who’s around them, who’s talking to them now, who was talking to them when they were 10 years old. It all fits together and makes sense. They’re great people first, you know?”

And idiots. Never leave that out.

Joel Lorenzi covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joel? He can be reached at jlorenzi@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @joelxlorenzi. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Joel’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

Link

Rec Sports

Sports: Youth baseball tournaments coming to Athens | Sports

The Athens Texas Baseball Association (ATBA) is proud to host the Diamond Youth Baseball (DYB) District 6 Tournament for the 7U and 8U Coach Pitch Divisions, taking place Friday, June 6 through Sunday, June 8 at Coleman Park in Athens, Texas. This exciting three-day event will feature young athletes from across East Texas competing for […]

Published

19 minutes ago

May 31, 2025

Your Sports Nation

This exciting three-day event will feature young athletes from across East Texas competing for a chance to advance to the DYB Texas South Regional Tournaments — scheduled for June 21–23 in Corsicana (8U) and Center (7U). Teams that win their regional tournaments will go on to face the Texas North Division champions in the Texas DYB World Series, held in Longview, Texas. From there, the ultimate prize awaits — a chance to compete in the Diamond Youth Baseball World Series in Dunn, North Carolina, where 8U and 7U teams from across the country gather to crown national champions.

kAm%96 g& s:G:D:@? x 3C24<6E W=2C86 5:G:D:@?X H:== :?4=F56 E62>D 7C@> pE96?D[ r92?5=6C[ 2?5 !2=6DE:?6]k^Am

kAm%96 g& s:G:D:@? xx 3C24<6E WD>2== 5:G:D:@?X 762EFC6D `_ E62>Di |2=2<@77[ uC2?A[ t=<92CE[ $=@4F>[ }@CE9 %J=6C[ vC2A6=2?5[ p=E@[ 2?5 #:@ ‘:DE2]k^Am

kAmx? E96 f& s:G:D:@? x 3C24<6E[ E62>D 7C@> pE96?D[ r92?5=6C[ !2=6DE:?6[ 2?5 r@CD:42?2 H:== 7246 @77]k^Am

kAmp%qp :?G:E6D E96 6?E:C6 4@>>F?:EJ E@ 4@>6 @FE 2?5 4966C @? E96D6 E2=6?E65 J@F?8 A=2J6CD] %96 3@JD C6AC6D6?E:?8 pE96?D 2C6 2 D<:==65 2?5 56E6C>:?65 8C@FA[ @H? 7@C E96:C DEC@?8 5676?D6 2?5 D@=:5 32ED] %96J H6C6 D6=64E65 2D p==\$E2CD 3J E96:C G@=F?E66C 4@2496D 7@C ?@E @?=J E96:C A6C7@C>2?46 @? E96 7:6=5[ 3FE 2=D@ E96:C @FEDE2?5:?8 677@CE[ 2EE:EF56[ 2?5 DA@CED>2?D9:A]k^Am

kAmr@=6>2? !2C<[ @H? 7@C :ED 6I46AE:@?2==J >2:?E2:?65 8C2DD 7:6=5D — ?@H 364@>:?8 2 C2C:EJ 2>@?8 J@FE9 32D632== 724:=:E:6D t2DE %6I2D — H:== D6CG6 2D E96 E@FC?2>6?E G6?F6] %96 A2C<’D EC25:E:@?2= A=2J:?8 DFC7246D @776C 2 4=2DD:4 6IA6C:6?46 2? 6C2 H96? >2?J 4@>>F?:E:6D 92G6 EC2?D:E:@?65 E@ EFC7 @C 2==\5:CE 7:6=5D]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mv2E6 p5>:DD:@?ik^DEC@?8mk^Am

kF=mk=:mkAmuC:52J }:89Ei Sd p5F=ED ^ Sb r9:=5C6?k^Amk^=:mk=:mkAm$2EFC52J Wp== s2JXi S`_ p5F=ED ^ Sd r9:=5C6?k^Amk^=:mk=:mkAm$F?52J p7E6C?@@?i Sd p5F=ED ^ Sb r9:=5C6?k^Amk^=:mk^F=m

kAmkDEC@?8mp%qp r@?46DD:@?Dk^DEC@?8m H:== 36 D6CG:?8 FA 2== J@FC 72G@C:E6 32==A2C< 4=2DD:4D[ :?4=F5:?8 qq”[ 9@E 5@8D[ ?249@D[ 2?5 A@A4@C? — A6C764E 7@C 6?;@J:?8 2 8C62E 52J 2E E96 32==A2C<]k^Am

kAmp== 82E6 2?5 4@?46DD:@? AC@4665D H:== 36?67:E E96 pE96?D %6I2D q2D632== pDD@4:2E:@? 2?5 E96 s:2>@?5 *@FE9 q2D632== $49@=2CD9:A uF?5[ 96=A:?8 DFAA@CE 7FEFC6 @AA@CEF?:E:6D 7@C =@42= J@FE9 E96 DA@CE]k^Am

kAmy@:? FD 7@C 2 H66<6?5 @7 4@>>F?:EJ[ 4@>A6E:E:@?[ 2?5 46=63C2E:@? @7 J@FE9 32D632== — 2?5 4966C @? E96 ?6IE 86?6C2E:@? @7 32D632== DE2CD 2D E96J 492D6 2 492>A:@?D9:A 5C62>]k^Am

Link

Rec Sports

Youth Talent and Trade Skills Take Center Stage at 2nd Annual Youth Trades Day in Anniston

ANNISTON, AL – The second annual Youth Trades Day, hosted by Multiple Pathways 2 Success (MP2S) in collaboration with the West Anniston Foundation, will take place Thursday, June 5, at 5 p.m. at 229 S. Allen Avenue in Anniston. The event offers a platform for local youth to showcase their aspirations, skills, and potential career […]

Published

36 minutes ago

May 31, 2025

Your Sports Nation

ANNISTON, AL – The second annual Youth Trades Day, hosted by Multiple Pathways 2 Success (MP2S) in collaboration with the West Anniston Foundation, will take place Thursday, June 5, at 5 p.m. at 229 S. Allen Avenue in Anniston.

The event offers a platform for local youth to showcase their aspirations, skills, and potential career paths in various trade and vocational fields. Organizers encourage students and young adults to present their future career plans, offering a chance to win prizes and receive recognition for their ambitions.

As part of the event’s commitment to equity and access, participants will receive a stipend to help cover the cost of presentation materials. This support ensures that all youth, regardless of background, have an opportunity to participate and shine.

Now in its second year, Youth Trades Day seeks to empower young people by promoting hands-on skills, fostering workforce readiness, and connecting them with mentors and career resources. The event reflects a broader effort to prepare youth for diverse career paths outside of traditional academic routes and to raise awareness about the value of skilled trades in the community.

For community members, educators, and families, the event is an opportunity to support local youth, engage with emerging talent, and learn about the evolving landscape of career development in Calhoun County.

2nd Annual Youth Trades Day

Link

Rec Sports

Isiah Pacheco hosts youth camp in Springfield

Chiefs running back and Super Bowl champion Isiah Pacheco hosted a youth camp for hundreds of kids in the Ozarks today at Springfield Catholic. Pacheco talked with KY3 about why he loves to do the camps and being a role model, recently becoming the first member of his family to graduate from college, and why […]

Published

1 hour ago

May 31, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Link

Rec Sports

Atlanta Hawks’ grant launches Spalding County Instructional League | Sports

GRIFFIN — Spalding County Parks and Recreation received a grant from the Atlanta Hawks in March for youth sports. Kay Mobley, director of NBN Sports, teamed up with Warren East, director of Spalding United Youth Basketball (SUYB) to launch the Spalding County Instructional League. This program aims to provide essential basketball training to young athletes […]

Published

1 hour ago

May 31, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The league allows young athletes to learn basketball in a less competitive setting while gaining valuable in-game experience. Coach OJ Moore from Griffin High School selected some of his top players to serve as mentors, creating a unique opportunity for older athletes to share their knowledge with younger players, fostering community and unity.

Link

Rec Sports

California track-and-field championships draw limited protest over trans student’s participation

CLOVIS, Calif. — California’s high school track-and-field state finals will award one extra medal Saturday in events where a transgender athlete places in the top three, a rule change that may be the first of its kind nationally by a high school sports governing body. The new California Interscholastic Federation policy was written in response […]

Published

2 hours ago

May 31, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The new California Interscholastic Federation policy was written in response to the success of high school junior AB Hernandez, a trans student who competes in the girls high jump, long jump and triple jump. She led in all three events after preliminaries Friday. The CIF said earlier this week it would let an additional student compete and medal in the events where Hernandez qualified.

The two-day championship kicked off in the sweltering heat at high school near Fresno. The atmosphere was relatively quiet Friday despite critics — including parents, conservative activists and President Donald Trump — calling for Hernandez to be barred from girls competition leading up to the meet.

There was some pushback Friday. A group of fewer than 10 people gathered outside the stadium ahead of the meet to protest Hernandez’s participation. Some of them wore “Save Girls’ Sports” T-shirts. At one point as Hernandez was attempting a high jump, someone in the stands yelled an insult. An aircraft circled above the stadium for more than an hour during the events, carrying a banner that read, “No Boys in Girls’ Sports!”

The rest of the night ran smoothly for Hernandez, who finished the triple jump with a mark close to 41 feet (13 meters), nearly 10 inches (25 centimeters) ahead of her closest competitor, San Francisco Bay Area junior Kira Gant Hatcher.

Hernandez also led in the long jump with a mark close to 20 feet (6 meters) to advance to the final. She advanced in the high jump, clearing 5 feet, 5 inches (1.7 meters) with ease.

She did not address the press.

The CIF rule change reflects efforts to find a middle ground in the debate over trans girls’ participation in youth sports.

“The CIF values all of our student-athletes and we will continue to uphold our mission of providing students with the opportunity to belong, connect, and compete while complying with California law,” the group said in a statement after announcing its rule change.

A recent AP-NORC poll found that about 7 in 10 U.S. adults think transgender female athletes should not be allowed to participate in girls and women’s sports at the high school, college or professional level. That view was shared by about 9 in 10 Republicans and roughly half of Democrats.

The federation announced the rule change after Trump threatened this week to pull federal funding from California unless it bars trans female athletes from competing on girls teams. The CIF said it decided on the change before then.

The U.S. Department of Justice also said it would investigate the state federation and the district that includes Hernandez’s high school to determine whether they violated federal sex discrimination law by allowing trans girls to compete in girls sports.

Some California Republicans also weighed in, with several state lawmakers attending a news conference to criticize the federation for keeping Hernandez in the competition and a Republican gubernatorial candidate planning to attend Saturday’s finals.

California law allows trans students to compete on sex-segregated sports teams consistent with their gender identity.

The federation said the rule would open the field to more “biological female” athletes. One expert said the change may itself be discriminatory because it creates an extra spot for “biological female” athletes but not for other trans athletes.

The federation did not specify how they define “biological female” or how they would verify whether a competitor meets that definition.

Hernandez told the publication Capital & Main earlier this month that she couldn’t worry about critics.

“I’m still a child, you’re an adult, and for you to act like a child shows how you are as a person,” she said.

California’s state championship stands out from that of other states because of the number of competitors athletes are up against to qualify. The state had the second-largest number of students participating in outdoor track and field in the nation during the 2023-2024 school year, behind Texas, according to a survey by the National Federation of State High School Associations.

Olympians Marion Jones and Tara Davis-Woodhall previously set state championship records in the long jump in 1993 and 2017, respectively, both surpassing 22 feet (6.7 meters).

The boys 100-meter dash heats were also a highlight Friday. Junior Jaden Jefferson of De La Salle High School in Concord finished in 10.01 seconds, about .2 seconds faster than a meet record set in 2023. Jefferson’s time won’t count as a record unless he can replicate his results in the final.

___

Austin is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Austin on X: @sophieadanna

Link