School and sports. They go hand in hand. Our kids start out young playing a sport like soccer. Head to a park on a Saturday morning in the spring or fall and you will see countless fields of kids playing soccer. School gyms are a busy place during the school year with team sports such as volleyball and basketball. Find a baseball field in the spring and early summer and chances are you can catch a game. You will also find lots of parents too lining the sideline or sitting in the bleachers, too. Adolescence means school and sports. But, it also can mean so much more.

If we make the big leap to college level sports, we know that there is a big difference in competition and intensity of play. There is also a big difference in how the players are treated too, especially the ones that have scholarships. Those athletes are given priority in terms of conditioning, rehabilitation, and injury prevention. But before they arrived at that level of play, what type of priority treatment did they receive at the high school level in terms of conditioning, rehabilitation, and injury prevention? What about at the grade school level?

As a child grows their body develops and changes. So does everyone else’s. If playing football, the tackles become harder as the opponents grow in size and weight. In basketball, the intensity of the players increases as does the contact. What is available to these athletes to help them stay healthy and injury-free throughout their season? Do they have the proper resources available to them for personalized conditioning and strength training?

Many times what is offered is not player specific, nor is it truly meant for injury prevention. Coaches and parents will want their kid back on the field or court as soon as possible. Why? To win and to increase their odds of being seen by a recruiter. Yes, kids are resilient. Yes, kids recover quickly. But at what cost?

At DCW we see student athletes. We understand the desire to get back in the game and play. But we also know that if that student athlete is not 100% they run the incredible risk of re-injury. We also know that there is player specific conditioning and rehabilitation that will help offset the risk of injury, too. So, until your kid makes it to the college level of play and receives the individualize treatment, let DCW ensure they receive it today for the sake of tomorrow.