Sudden Death: Young Athletes Dying In Sports

Gladiators. Invincible. Freaks of nature. Gods of the Grid Iron. Superheroes. Athletes are looked upon as men and women of steel sometimes. They are marveled as immortal- coded and blessed with genes from the gods of sports. But in the last 3-4 years, a number of high school and even middle school athletes have collapsed and died during practice, games or scrimmages. It's not just one sport. It's been football, lacrosse, tennis, hockey, etc. More and more athletes around the country are dying in sports. In North Carolina recently, a 15 yr old player collapsed and died during a basketball game. Sean Fisher was only 13 years old; Max Gilpin was 15 years old; Douglas Morales a 17 year old high school student; Ereck Plancher a college freshman. These students all died as a result of participating in football training. I can remember when I was in high school, one of our offensive linemen also played basketball died during a organized scrimmage in the preseason of basketball. He was only a freshman.

Students who train year round anticipate being able to play in their favorite sport. In fact, they prepare and practice sometimes all year, hoping to make the team. However, in order to participate in any form of physical activity, most schools require a clearance from a physician. The fact that the students are cleared for physical activities/sports is no longer a reason to feel confident that they are going to be safe while playing their sport.

For example, I had a client recently who sustained a concussion during the preseason. Yet he debated rather or not he was going to tell his coaches about his injury. He wanted to play so bad and wanted to impress the coaches so much, he was willing to jeopardize his health and life.

Likewise, I wasn't always a saint myself. Heck, even now, I sometimes try to defy the laws of nature by pushing through injuries that I know I shouldn't. I can remember on two occasions in my early career, in which I put my health and life on the line just to play. One was when I was playing little league football against our cross town rivals the Tiny Vikings. I got hit so hard that I experienced double vision for a whole series; however, I stayed in the game and continued to play. Another incident was when I was a freshman in college, I wanted to make a name for myself to the point that I played through a mild shoulder separation and a mild concussion without telling anyone on the coaching or athletic training staff the whole preseason. My reasoning was that I didn't think that the injuries were too serious enough for medical attention, as well as, I didn't want to seem weak and have to miss practice or God for bid be pulled from a game.

So what's going on here? What is the problem?

Who is responsible for this?

Is it the physician's giving the physical responsible?

Is it the coaches' fault for pushing and putting high expectations on the players especially if you are in a highly successful program?

Or is it the player's fault for playing Russia Roulette with their health?

Are students who are physically cleared appropriately tested?

Are we listening to their concerns/complaints?

Are they being pushed too far during training?

Or better yet, could the parents be the guilty party because they are enthusiastically counting on their child to perform?

As the coaches/trainers prepare the team to play the game, they focus on intense drilling. The goal of the coach/trainer is to build endurance mentally and physically. Students may experience shortness of breathe, exhaustion, dizziness and other signs of fatigue – but the coaches/trainers often ignore the complaints as they are focused on building endurance and physical stamina – perhaps it is more in the form of thinking mind over matter – work through the challenges because you most likely won't be able to stop for a drink of water/Gatorade/etc. during an actual game.

Here are some things that parents can do:

Have your child thoroughly tested - including an EKG that may be able to detect any heart abnormalities during physical activities. If you feel uncertain, go ahead and ask for a stress test/heart ultrasound.

Tell your doctors as much information as you can about your family history (has anyone had a sudden cardiac arrest at a young/early age?)

Talk to your child - ask him/her about their physical response during activities? Be specific in asking if they have experienced any shortness of breath, chest pains, feeling faint or weak?

Do not take anything for granted - a heart murmur is serious. Remember the movie John Q with Denzel Washington.

Speak to your school's trainer or coach, ask him/her if they have the necessary equipment to assist the students in the event someone collapses on the field/during practice? Have they received the training to operate the equipment?


For the coaches:

Communicate with the athletes that injuries will not cause them to lose their position.

Do not encourage kids to play through an injury.

Likewise discuss with them that playing injured only puts them in more danger than if trying to play through the pain and ignoring the signs and symptoms.

Encourage an open door policy with your players to talk about any and everything regarding the team.

Express that playing injured doesn't categorize them as being tough.

Explain to them that getting hurt is a part of the game and it shouldn't be looked upon it as being shameful.

Don't question the validity of their injury.

Don't give them the silent treatment or alienate them from the team.

While the physicians may not be too keen on the idea of the thorough physical testing, keep in mind that this is your child. If your car broke down, you would take it to the mechanic and have it repaired or you may even decide to purchase a new one. On the other hand, if your child collapses, you may not be able to have him/her fixed and there is definitely no replacement for the loss. If the physician is unable to perform the tests due to insurance restrictions then by all means pay for it yourself. You may find that it is actually affordable or perhaps you can ask your physician to work out a payment plan. It's less than the cost of a funeral and the lifelong emotional pain that may cost you in therapy fees.

In getting a thorough examination and in support of your child's team, you have done your best. Now it's time to cheer them on - Let's Go.

Personal Trainer in Charlotte, NC