Child safety organization releases policy statement on reducing baseball, softball injuries

Elk Grove Village, IL – Children should be taught the proper way to throw a ball and be made aware of “overuse injuries” to help reduce serious baseball and softball injuries, according to a revised policy statement (.pdf file) by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The association defines overuse injuries as “damage to a bone, muscle, ligament, or tendon due to repetitive stress without allowing time for the body to heal.”

Among AAP's other recommendations:

• Children should follow proper training and conditioning procedures before playing.
• Protective face gear should be worn, such as eyewear and metal helmet shields or cages.
• Officials and coaches should monitor weather conditions that could exacerbate injuries before games, such as extreme heat.
• Training should be tailored to each child’s own development rate.

The policy statement was published in the March issue of the journal Pediatrics.