Most Kentucky parents have experienced the dilemma of deciding whether the benefits of participating in certain sports outweigh the risks. Sometimes it comes down to being either a good, responsible parent or a popular one.
There Are Benefits to Playing Team Sports
At some point in their childhood, most people want to play a team sport—baseball, basketball, or football, for example. Besides the obvious benefits of exercise and, in many cases, fresh air and sunshine, individuals can reap some tangible benefits from team sports. Awat News, an English-language newspaper in Iraq, points out that team sports
- build character;
- create camaraderie;
- learn to communicate and cooperate with each other;
- develop the skills of friendship, sportsmanship, and leadership;
- create resiliency, in that players experience bad losses as well as uplifting wins;
- develop critical-thinking and problem-solving skills by recognizing their mistakes, working on ways to improve, and putting the corrections into practice in subsequent matches; and
- acquire self-confidence, patience, determination, and self-discipline.
Obviously, team sports have a lot of valuable potential benefits.
…And Then There Are the Dangers
Probably the most devastating injuries that occur in organized team sports are traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). TBIs can result in permanent disability, mental impairments, and even death.
Concussion is the type of brain injury most common in sports. A concussion occurs when the brain is bumped back and forth inside the skull and can happen when
- two players run into each other;
- a player is hit in the head by a ball, a bat, or other sports equipment; or
- a player falls and bumps his head.
A concussion alters a person’s mental status and brain functioning. Repeated concussions can create long-term or even permanent disability.
What Activities Present the Greatest Risk?
Obviously, certain activities put participants at higher risk of brain injury. WebMD cites the following sports and recreational activities as causing the most head injuries for all ages of players:
- cycling;
- football;
- basketball;
- softball/baseball; and
- riding dune buggies, go-carts, mini bikes, and other powered vehicles.
The Brain Injury Association of America states that for youth ages 5 to 18 years, the following activities resulted in the most concussions:
- cycling;
- football;
- basketball;
- playground activities; and
- soccer.
If your loved one’s brain injury in Kentucky was caused by someone else’s actions, you should consider consulting a Louisville brain injury lawyer. Call Gray and White Law at 502-210-8942 or toll free at 888-450-4456 to set up a FREE, no-obligation consultation.