When children and young adults participate in softball, there are four main areas that these groups could have. They are medical conditions, overuse injuries, thermoregulation, and appropriateness of resistance training.
Medical Conditions
When participating in softball, children and young adults with medical conditions will have difficulties in participating. Three of the main medical conditions faced by children and young adults are asthma, diabetes and epilepsy.
Asthma
1 in 6 children in Australia are faced with this condition making it a priority to know how to deal with this condition. When a child has asthma and participates in softball, an asthma could be conducted due to the dust or pollen in the air or the strenuous exertion of the lungs.
1 in 6 children in Australia are faced with this condition making it a priority to know how to deal with this condition. When a child has asthma and participates in softball, an asthma could be conducted due to the dust or pollen in the air or the strenuous exertion of the lungs.
Diabetes
When a child has diabetes, they are unable to properly maintain their blood sugar. By becoming a softball player, children diabetes need to be cared for so the coach, parents and athlete can monitor their blood sugar levels. Alternatively, participating in softball, or physical activity in general, can increase a child's cardiovascular fitness, blood sugar glucose control and enhance insulin sensitivity.
When a child has diabetes, they are unable to properly maintain their blood sugar. By becoming a softball player, children diabetes need to be cared for so the coach, parents and athlete can monitor their blood sugar levels. Alternatively, participating in softball, or physical activity in general, can increase a child's cardiovascular fitness, blood sugar glucose control and enhance insulin sensitivity.
Epilepsy
This medical condition involves recurring seizures occur when there is a disturbance of the electrochemical activity in the brain. When these occur, they can affect the sufferer in two ways, petit mal or grand mal. Each case is different and thus, when participating in softball, one needs to know how to deal with the seizures and the signs for when they will occur so others can deal with them. If one of these seizures occur in the middle of a game, or an 'at bat,' the player could cause more damage to themselves as they are in a dangerous environment. Caution and care need to be taken.
This medical condition involves recurring seizures occur when there is a disturbance of the electrochemical activity in the brain. When these occur, they can affect the sufferer in two ways, petit mal or grand mal. Each case is different and thus, when participating in softball, one needs to know how to deal with the seizures and the signs for when they will occur so others can deal with them. If one of these seizures occur in the middle of a game, or an 'at bat,' the player could cause more damage to themselves as they are in a dangerous environment. Caution and care need to be taken.
Overuse Injuries
As children and young adults are still growing, their bodies are not fully supported and developed. Overuse injuries are common among children and young adults as repetitive actions or new movements can cause stress fractures. Stress fractures occur when pressure is placed on a bone due to overuse. In softball, these injuries occur quite often as the body is placed under different pressures and repetitive movements such as throwing, pitching and batting occur. Children and young adults are susceptible to these injures and thus should take extra care in their training and performance.
Thermoregulation
Young people do not have the full capacity to adapt to sudden changes in one's body temperature. When one is young in age, the ability to sweat is not fully developed and therefore heat builds up in the body. Softball is typically a summer sport so when children and young adults play in these hot and dry conditions, they are prone to overheating. Hydration and appropriate clothing should be warn to reduce the risk of overheating. However, softball can also be played in the winter months. Acclimatisation is imperative not only in heat but also in the cold. Wearing long sleeve t-shirts under ones playing strip will keep the athlete warm and an effective warm up should be performed.
Appropriateness of Resistance Training
Strength is a very important factor in softball as it is needed to increase power and endurance in the working muscles. Resistance training is utilised in softball to enhance one's strength. However, when young children are participating in softball, the appropriateness of resistance training needs to be taken into consideration. Resistance training is an advanced program and type of training. Children especially may not have mature enough bones or muscles to exert this pressure on them. Maturity and muscular development is a defining factor in determine whether someone is able to benefit from resistance training. Granted, it is beneficial for softball, but there are other methods to increasing the strength of children and young adults without exerting too much pressure on the athlete.