Rising Intensity Allows for Greater Number of Injuries in Sports

By Jessica Wank

October 18th, 2017 - Greenville, New York Sports

Most people would assume athletes are prone to more injuries over the summer than the school year considering they are sometimes unsupervised by parents or coaches. But according to nurses and athletes of Greenville High/ Middle school, the opposite is true.

            Between school sports becoming more demanding and athletes getting more physical, the amount of student athletes getting hurt is increasing to a number higher than ever before. Nurse Gardner of the Greenville High/Middle school said, “Athletes can get concussions during almost any sport, especially if the sport is physical and the athlete is getting pushed around a lot”. There was already a student athlete with a concussion prior to the end of the first sports season.

During wet weather the most common injury Greenville’s nurses see is pulled muscles. Wet weather causes this injury during outdoor sports like soccer, cross country, softball, baseball, and track because you could easily slip on wet grass or in mud. Greenville Nurse, Mrs. Gardner, cites track a sport with less injuries than others.Although during track, pulled muscles, tense muscles and overheating are all possibilities. There have been multiple occasions on which a student athlete from Greenville has overheated. One student athlete, Skylar Pettit, has been in one of these situations recently. At her cross country meet on Tuesday September 26th, 2017 Pettit felt totally normal running; until the 200 meter sprint at the end of her varsity race. Pettit states, “[she remembered] feeling really tired and [she] didn’t want to get up”. Pettit also said “[she] immediately wanted to sit down” and that she “couldn’t support [herself] anymore”. Officials at the race had told Pettit to drink more water and take it slow at practice.

Some athletes have unfortunately suffered from multiple injuries throughout the school year. Jack Motta, a soccer, basketball, and baseball player, has been stepped on by a fellow junior varsity soccer player and has strained a tendon in his knee. Motta was advised by his coach to do what he thought was best for himself. Motta commented “that’s the best advice [he] needed” and sat out for two practices and one game for his knee

injury before finally resuming to play for the Greenville team. Motta confessed “[he’s] hoping to play jv baseball just like [he] did for soccer”.

Athletes are advised to stay well hydrated, listen to your body, eat healthy, get lots of sleep and listen to your coach. Nurse Gardner also said “be aware and attend to the small injuries now so they don’t become bigger ones later."


       Jack Motta pointing at
         his strained tendons.