Lia Fiffles ‘24
Opinions & Managing Editor
Sports have become an intricate part of not only the lives of several of us, but also the entertainment field, the business field, and even, the medical field. It is no secret that sports present a huge risk in injuring oneself, whether that injury be minor or even fatal. There are a number of risks that come with deciding to play a sport, some may even be unknown to you. There is also the fact that every sport presents a different opportunity or chance of getting hurt. There is no predicting when or where it could happen.
The question that presents itself is whether kids are being given enough of a warning to both the short- and long-term risks and effects that sports can have on their bodies? Of course, some may be too young to truly understand these risks, but as parents how does one go about taking that risk? There are obviously several factors that go into deciding to start a sport such as any pre-existing injuries and the sport you are choosing to go into. At the end of the day though, the thrill and benefits that come with playing seem to overthrow any potential risks that can come into play.
As someone who has played a sport for a significant amount of time, I was no stranger to the potential injuries and risks that I was signing myself up for. The long-term effect on both my knees and hips can attest to that. But even the small injuries like concussions and sprained ankles did not deter me from continuing to play. When you think about it, everything comes with a risk. There are contact sports that involve slamming into your opponent and colliding with one another. These are all expected though when deciding to join a contact sport.
Having a proper introduction into the world of sports and all that it can bring you is what remains vital. With all the benefits surrounding sports, one cannot forget the challenges and pain that they can bring, both physical and mental. Just recently, an American football safety, Damar Hamlin, who plays for the Buffalo Bills, suffered cardiac arrest after colliding with an opponent on the field. Although he is now making a safe recovery, this goes to show that sports can entail fatal consequences on all of whom participates. We see this also when talking about mental health in athletes. Katie Meyer was a goalkeeper for Stanford University’s women’s soccer team. In March 2022, Meyer committed suicide. This came as a shock to everyone because of Meyer’s upbeat personality and knack for uplifting others. It is common to overlook the mental well-being of not only athletes, but student athletes as well.
So, when it comes to integrating sports into your life, it remains important to truly understand the risks and dangers of doing so. It is not easy putting yourself through the training, conditioning, and competing of this world, and the strength it takes both mentally and physically to endure all that comes with playing a sport is significant. Take the time to truly understand the dangers within the world of sports.
