With baseball and softball and spring soccer right around the corner, American Association of Pediatrics has just released its revised “policy statement on baseball and softball.” One of the statement’s authors, Dr. Joseph Congeni, adds that parents and coaches “should be familiar with ‘an ounce of prevention’ guidelines.”

Since baseball and softball reign supreme in spring, the AAP focuses their precautionary attention on overuse arm injuries due to throwing. Pitchers need to be monitored closely. In an earlier post we explored this issue in greater detail, and a reader noted that coaches can’t be responsible for knowing if his or her pitcher has thrown for another team. When kids play for multiple teams, parents need to inform the coach how recently the kid has pitched and how many pitches he or she threw.

Coaches and parents need to be sure that kids wear proper protective equipment and make sure games aren’t played in extreme weather conditions. Most of all, says the APP, we need to remember that kids are “not just ‘small’ adults.” They’re bodies are still forming and are more vulnerable to certain types of injuries.

The APP guidelines won’t surprise parents and coaches and probably are precautions you take already. This article from Health.com provides all of them. I have to admit that I’ve never ensured that I had “quick access” to an automated external defibrillator while coaching a game, but apparently that is recommended. The rest of the advice covers what most of us do already, but the reminder is worth reading and heeding.

Here’s to a great season.