Athletes do whatever they can to get the first down, strike a player out or put points on the scoreboard. But the drive to win can lead to sometimes serious injuries. It’s not uncommon for people who train a lot and sometimes over-train to get stress fractures. Stress fractures are the first thing people think about when people break a bone from a non-event type situation. But from what I’ve heard, Kevin Ware had a perfectly healthy bone and had no pain whatsoever. 

 

Usually people with a stress fracture will have some kind of nagging pain. It is not playing through the pain. Coaches and parents need to recognize when they see changes in the way an athlete is performing. If they’re slowing down, if they’re changing the way they pitch, it’s likely because something is hurt.

 

They need to be doing strength training and agility training. Good warm-ups and stretching is important before a workout, practice, game, anything. And being just as mentally prepared as they are physically prepared is important. With high school and college athletes especially, they’re going to class and studying and then playing sports every day, and they’re exhausted. Being ready mentally is just as important.