All Articles by Gwenn OKeeffe

The Research Behind Chest Protectors: Has it been worth the money spent yet?

Where sports are concerned, our inner need to protect our kids can sometimes be at odds with our desire to allow our kids to spread their wings.  While most sports are safe with proper equipment and coaching, there are always risks involved, especially with contact sports. The question is, how safe is some of the specialized equipment our kids are asked to use, such as chest protectors? 

Should sportsman(woman)ship be scored??

My 13 year old daughter’s overnight camp has an Olympic-like competition each summer called College League. Many overnight

Ellen Reminds Us of The Good In Sports

A couple week's ago, I caught an episode of Ellen with my daughter that had an unusually inspiring story involving college softball players.  One of the players, Sara Tucholsky, tore her ACL after hitting a home run and fell to the ground in incredible pain. By league rules, her teammates could not touch her until the inning was over or she would be out. The opposing team’s firstbase player asked the umpire if she and another of her teammates could

What's The Right Amount of Sports For Your Child?

Your child loves sports but is he or she getting the right amount? There is a "right" amount and, while it differs for each child, it always has one feature in common: there is time reserved for free play and other activities.

Taking Time Off From Sports Important For Kids, Not Just the Pros

Playing sports and staying fit are important but so, too, is rest. Pro leagues have an off season not to give their players a vacation but because athlete's playing hard need to give their bodies a break. Young athletes are not getting this very important break and the impact on their growing bodies is causing serious harm, physically and emotionally.

Riding A Bike: Safety and Developmental Issues for Parents

Learning to ride a bike is a rite of passage in childhood but not all kids learn at the same pace and many parents find the process mystifying. There are many safety issues to consider but the biggest hurdles are developmental. Here are some tips and concepts to help you help your child master this age-old

Daily Fitness Game Plan for Your Entire Family

In addition to the heart-healthy benefits of exercise, active kids and
adults are usually more energetic and happier than those not as active.
Use the University of Missouri  "Children's Activity Pyramid"  to see what kids need each day.

Diving Off Diving Boards Is Dangerous For Kids

Recreational and competitive diving are becoming increasingly popular. A new study warns that diving is actually more dangerous than once thought and in ways not previously appreciated.

Overuse Blamed for Alarming Increase in "Tommy John" Elbow Surgery In Young Athletes, notes top Sports Medicine expert

The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine held its annual meeting recently in Orlando, Florida, and released an alarming study by one of the country's top sports docs: 'Tommy John' surgery, surgery on the ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow, is up in kids...and all due to overuse!

This Just In: Our Kids Are Really Not That Fit!

If you ask parents if their kids are fit, most will say “yes”. If you ask kids if they are fit, most think they are. A new study out tomorrow in JAMA rocks those perceptions to the core with quite a reality check. (JAMA. 2008;300[3]:295-305.)