Injuries and two sport athletes…

SME Lancer’s XC competed at Baldwin Invitational this past weekend.  While the course was beautiful and the competition good, injuries, heat and humidity were the topic of the day.  East had several athletes not competing due to injuries and had more athletes that had issues during the meet.  Some of these injuries are due to kids attempting to do two sports (club soccer and XC).  Unfortunately, it puts a lot of stress on these young underdeveloped bodies and we are seeing the consequences.  The kids think we are joking when we tell them it is XC season and it should be their focus.  While we are not asking them to give up soccer forever, we are asking that they limit the involvement during the XC season.  As a prejudice cross country coach, I have to ask is your child going to be on the same soccer team in the spring as they are on XC now?  In other words, if your child is on JV or Varsity now in THIS highschool sport will they be on JV or Varsity in the spring on Soccer?  Doesn’t it make sense that they focus on the sport that is in season.  I suspect we will see, just as we did last season, an increase in illness, injury and fatigue in those kids doing two sports the remainder of the season.  Oh and don’t misunderstand me there are plenty of gentlemen attempting to do club sports and XC too.  While I am sure this blog won’t be as well accepted as others…it is MY opinion and it is something we have said all along…it just takes injuries for kids and parents to listen.

David Pennington