Original Oratory Flashcards
Introduction
As a soccer player, I have had many coaches that have helped me progress. Yet, many of them have overworked me, and this is an unfortunate reality for so many young players in any sport. Ranging from soccer to basketball to even golf. Everybody can endure different amounts of effort. This is the exact reason why coaches need to understand the risks of overworking their players. In order to understand this in more depth, let’s view the bigger picture by explaining why improving young players is much more important than winning, clear our minds to retain strong mental health, and take a deep breath to analyze the risk of injuries.
Point 1
Firstly, let’s view the bigger picture to further understand how developing players is much more important than winning games at young ages. The best way players can improve fast is to work hard in training, and kids will be able to work harder if they are not tired or fatigued from being overworked. The United Soccer Association states that youth soccer games can vary from 60 to 90 minutes. If kids are constantly running or playing for this amount of time every game, they will eventually burn out. Also, a top league in youth soccer named, MLS Next, limits the amount of games each team can play for this exact reason. It is critical for players to be 100% in training, where they will develop much more than they will in games.
Point 2
Next, let’s clear our minds to retain strong mental health. Mental health is a vital part of everybody’s lives, and if we don’t keep it strong, it can lead to more problems. According to the Nation Institutes of Health, around 35% of children suffer from stress-related health problems. Affected mental health can then lead to depression, which is something no kid should go through. Worsening depression could lead to suicide, which, as the American Psychological Association elaborates, approximatley 11 out of 100,000 children complete suicide. If coaches continue to overwork their players, and it is a big stress factor for kids, mental health will only get worse.
Point 3
Finally, let’s take a deep breath to analyze the vast risks of injuries. The bodies of children can only handle so much, especially when hitting puberty or growing. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, “Osgood-Schlatter Disease is a condition that causes pain and swelling below the knee joint.” As a player that suffers from OSD, I know the risks. The way that Harvard University puts it, is that 20% of active athletes suffer from OSD. This is only one of many common injuries for kids, and these numbers will only rise if coaches continue to overwork their players.
Conclusion
This makes it clear why coaches should understand the risks of overworking their players. By viewing why improving young players is much more important than winning, to retain strong mental health, and to limit the risk of injuries. Rather than staying home for training or sitting on the bench for a game, let’s not overwork players.
