The Youth-Nex Conference on Physical Health and Well-Being for Youth, Oct 10 & 11, 2013, University of Virginia Panel 5 - Injury Prevention and Treatment Michael F. Bergeron, Ph.D. FACSM - "Youth Sports: Encouraging Participation and Life-long Physical Activity, Fitness and Health" Bergeron is the Executive Director of the National Youth Sports Health & Safety Institute and a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Sanford School of Medicine of the University of South Dakota at the Sanford USD Medical Center. Website: http://bit.ly/YNCONF13

1. A Presentation for
THE 3RD ANNUAL YOUTH-NEX CONFERENCE
PHYSICAL HEALTH & WELL-BEING FOR YOUTH
YOUTH SPORTS: ENCOURAGING
PARTICIPATION AND LIFE-LONG
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
October 11, 2013
Michael F. Bergeron, Ph.D., FACSM
Executive Director, National Youth Sports Health & Safety Institute
Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Sanford School of Medicine of The University of South Dakota
Senior Scientist, Sanford Children's Health Research Center

2. • 91% of Americans feel
sports participation is
important for children and
adolescents as part of an
active, healthy lifestyle
• 94% feel more needs to be
done to ensure the health
and safety of youth
athletes

3. The National Youth Sports Health & Safety Institute will be the recognized leader and
advocate for advancing and disseminating the latest research and evidence-based
education, recommendations and policy to enhance the
experience, development, health and safety of our youth in sports.
“There is no question our young people need to be active, and participating in youth
sports is an important component to that activity. However, too many of these young
athletes are doing too much, too fast – some even suffering serious and life-threatening
and life-altering injuries. This new institute will support youth athletics while also
creating guidelines to protect their health and safety,” said Michael F.
Bergeron, Ph.D., FACSM, Executive Director - National Youth Sports Health & Safety
Institute.

5. Urgent Areas of Focus
Sports Trauma
Environmental
Challenges
Training &
Competition
Overload
ASSESSMENT and RESEARCH
EDUCATION and OUTREACH
GUIDELINES and POLICY
Playing with
Chronic Disease
& Disability

6. Partnerships
•
•
•
•
•
Datalys Center for Sport Injury Research
NCAA
NFHS
Sport Governing Bodies
Medical and Sports Medicine Academies,
Societies and Associations
• …And Other Youth Sports Stakeholders

7. National Leadership Board
Michael F. Bergeron, Ph.D., FACSM - Chair
David A. Pearce, Ph.D.
Executive Director, National Youth Sports Health & Safety
Director, Sanford Children’s Health Research Center, Sanford Research USD
Institute
Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Sanford School of Medicine of The University of South Dakota
Sanford School of Medicine of The University of South Dakota
Senior Scientist, Sanford Children's Health Research Center
Karin A. Pfeiffer, Ph.D., FACSM
Thomas M. Best, MD, PhD, FACSM
Professor and Pomerene Endowed Chair
Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Biostatistics
Director, Division of Sports Medicine
Co-Medical Director, The OSU Sports Medicine Center
Team Physician, OSU Athletic Department
Ohio State University
Past-President, American College of Sports Medicine
Nailah Coleman, MD, FAAP, FACSM
Attending, Division of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine
Children’s National Medical Center
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Orthopaedics
The George Washington University Medical Center
John P. DiFiori, MD
Associate Professor, Michigan State University
Department of Kinesiology
Center for Physical Activity and Health
Christopher M. Powers, PT, PhD, FACSM, FAPTA
Associate Professor
Director, Program in Biokinesiology
Co-Director, Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Research Lab
USC Division of Biokinesiology & Physical Therapy
William O. Roberts, MD, MS, FACSM
Professor - Department of Family Medicine and Community Health
University of Minnesota Medical School
Program Director
University of Minnesota St John’s Health East Family Medicine Residency
Past-President, American College of Sports Medicine
Professor and Chief,
Representative Mike McIntyre: North Carolina
Division of Sports Medicine,
9th term as North Carolina’s 7th Congressional District Representative
Department of Family Medicine,
Ex-Officio Board Member: National Youth Sports Health & Safety Institute
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA,
Committee Assignments: House Agricultural and Armed Services Committee
Team Physician, UCLA Department of Intercollegiate Athletics
Congressional Caucus on Youth Sports: Co-Chairman and Co-Founder
Congressional Waterways Caucus: Co-Chairman and Co-Founder
Gary Hall, Jr.
Congressional Prayer Caucus: Co-Chairman
3-time Olympic Swimmer; 10-time Olympic Medalist
Friends of Scotland Caucus: Co-Chairman and Co-Founder
Sanford Children’s International Board member
Special Operations Forces Caucus: Co-Chairman and Co-Founder
Mindy Millard-Stafford, Ph.D., FACSM
Professor, Georgia Institute of Technology
School of Applied Physiology
Past-President, American College of Sports Medicine

8. Congressional Comments

9. Congressional Briefing – Physical Activity,
Fitness, Health & Disease Prevention
• Highlight the value of and
the role youth sports can
play in fitness, health, and
academic achievement
• Recognize the challenges
facing youth sports and
young athletes
• Work with Congress and
Federal agencies to craft
and promote creative
solutions to promote youth
fitness and health through
healthy sports
July 26, 2012 (Rep. Bilbray – CA; Rep. Kind –WI)

10. The Culture of Youth Sports
• Exclusion vs. Inclusion
– Early Specialization
– Year-round Training & Competition
– Travel Away from Home
– Professional Development Model
– Unsustainable Demands & Conflicts
• Escalating Injuries and Ongoing
Dropout

11. Overuse – A Preventable Problem
• Key Contributing Factors
– Excessive repeated submaximal
loading, without sufficient rest &
recovery to allow positive adaptations
– Growing and immature bodies are less
capable of handling the stress
– Early specialization
• Encourages overload and overuse
• Limits exposure to other sports and
activities
• Limits athletic capacity, resilience and often
performance

12. Overuse – A Preventable Problem
• The Solution
– Development takes time
• Diversified, balanced and progressive
athletic exposure and development across
childhood and adolescence
– Functional movement, balance, strength,
endurance and neuromuscular control
• Musculoskeletal injury risk is reduced
• Athletic capacity and sustained performance
are enhanced

13. Overuse – A Preventable Problem
• The Solution (cont.)
– Prior injury history is one of the best
determinants of injury risk
– No child should train or play hurt
– If an injury occurs,
• Essential that recovery and rehabilitation is
complete prior to returning to play
• Contributing factors need to be addressed and
corrected
– Biomechanics, excessive training load and
expectations, fitness, maturity…

14. Overuse – A Preventable Problem
• The Solution (cont.)
– Provide enough time and sufficient rest
between training sessions, matches or
games, and tournaments
•
•
•
•
Enhances recovery
Minimizes “carry-over” effects
Reduces injury risk
Enhances performance
– Coaches, Tournament Directors, Youth
Sports Governing Bodies…and Parents!

15. The Message
• 50 million Kids in Community Sports
– 8 million high school student athletes
– 440,000 NCAA student-athletes
– High school to being a professional
athlete: < 0.1%
• Think long-term, diversified and
progressive athletic development
• Minimize preventable injury risk and
stay well-rested, well-nourished and
healthy
• Keep it fun!

16. Foundation for a Healthy Life
Making Youth Sports a Public Health SolutionSM