Youth sports don’t feature the same dangerous combination of size, speed, power and aggression that defines professional sports, but injuries still remain a natural part of the game.
Even though minor injuries are often unavoidable, at Liberty Mutual Insurance Play Positive™ we believe it is a smart policy to take measures to help prevent serious and costly injuries and to limit, identify and treat injuries when they do happen.
We sat down with U.S. Snowboarding standout Ty Walker to get her thoughts on how youth athletes, coaches and Positive Sport Parents can help prevent, treat and overcome injuries.
In our exclusive TAKE 5 interview, Ty told us that she believes there is a lot that athletes can do to help limit or even prevent overuse injuries. She also shared some of the preventive training tips she uses to guard against injuries and stay on the course.
“I train a lot in the gym, and try to get as strong as possible,” said Ty. “I try to take calculated risks on the mountain when I’m trying new things, and not just send it all the time. I try and follow a progression.”
Like most high-level athletes, Ty has had to deal with injury and the setback that comes along with it. She told us that “focusing on what you can control” was key in maintaining a positive attitude on the road to recovery – especially after she suffered a foot injury during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
“When I bruised the bone in my heel in Sochi, it took me out of practice for the entire event,” said Ty. “I was able to take my runs, which I was grateful for, but the injury definitely weighed on me for the rest of the season. Instead of dwelling on it and getting upset about what happened, I acknowledged that there’s just some things you can’t control, and you just need to continue to try and put your best foot forward.”
As tough as it is for an athlete to deal with and come back from injuries, Ty believes that such experiences can teach youth athletes many valuable lessons about not just sports, but life in general.
“One of the biggest life lessons I’ve taken away from any injury I’ve gotten is that all you can do is put your best foot forward and try your hardest,” said Ty. “And if you get injured really going for something or trying to accomplish something, that’s really out of your control. You can’t dwell on it. You just have to readjust your expectations of a situation, and learn to deal with the hand you are dealt.”
Ty also believes firmly that coaches and Positive Sport Parents can make an impact when it comes to preventing, treating and overcoming injuries in youth snowboarding.
“Coaches and parents can help by making sure athletes are making good decisions about the tricks they are trying,” said Ty. “Athletes should take calculated risks and not try anything too extreme. Don’t push someone past what they are comfortable with.”
To read the full TAKE 5 interview with Ty, visit PlayPositive.com. And come back next month for another exclusive TAKE 5 interview!
At Liberty Mutual Insurance, we constantly look for ways to celebrate the countless acts of positivity shown by people every day. We created Play Positive, powered by Positive Coaching Alliance, as part of this belief to help ensure that our kids experience the best that sports have to offer in environments that promote and display positivity. We believe kids can learn valuable life lessons when coaches and parents come together to support winning on and off the snow.
©2014 Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and Positive Coaching Alliance. All rights reserved. This material may not be distributed without express written permission. Any reproduction in whole or part by and individuals or organizations will be held liable for copyright infringement to the full extent of the law.
