Ask The Coach Guidance for those lost in sports

Dear Coach: My 12-year-old son enjoyed baseball until he saw a
teammate get hit by a pitch last year. He's been unwilling to
play ever since. How can I coax him back into the box?
FEAR OF BATTING

Dear Batting: "You must provide him with a safe experience in
which he has success," says Elliot Johnson, professor of physical
education and sport science at Olivet Nazarene University in
Kankakee, Ill. Start by putting your son in a low-risk
environment--like a batting cage--and see how he responds. Once
you've made some progress, you'll both be in a better position to
decide if he wants to continue playing baseball. If he doesn't,
he may simply have outgrown the game. "He's old enough to recover
from the incident, so if he still doesn't want to play, it'll be
because he's not interested," says Johnson.

Dear Coach: I'm a high school sophomore hoping to play football,
but my parents want me to quit because they're afraid I'll get
injured. How can I change their minds?
WORRY WARTED

Dear Worry: "Let your parents know the potential for injury
exists in all sports, whether it be football or gymnastics," says
Jack Hutslar, founder of the North American Youth Sport
Institute. Then let them know you've given serious thought to
preventing injuries. Says Hutslar, "Tell them you plan to
participate in conditioning programs." By outlining your team's
exercise regimen and by explaining that you're focusing on skill
development--thereby decreasing your injury risk--you'll show
you've heard their concerns and are working to address them.

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