Name: Julia Plourde, Class of 2011 graduate
Senior Mastery Project: Winning at all costs comes with a hefty price tag for children: mental burnout, physical exhaustion and in some cases, lifelong injuries. Through her research, Plourde learned that many children participating in youth sports today are pushed dangerously beyond their limits. Parents are hoping for sports scholarships and coaches want a winning team.
A Disturbing Case: During her research, Plourde learned about a 10-year-old swimmer who participated in an overnight swimming marathon with her team. The youth hurt her shoulder at the event and later learned she wouldn't be able to swim again.
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Plourde's Own Experience with Sports Burnout: "I'm a field hockey player and I can't play field hockey in college anymore because over the years, I put too much pressure on my knee," Plourde told Patch.
Resources: In addition to various books and Internet articles, Plourde found a lot of valuable information in Mark Hyman's book, Until It Hurts, in which Hyman details his personal quest to make youth sports safer and more enjoyable after his teenage son undergoes major surgery so he can pitch again.
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How Parents Can Protect their Children from Burnout: "I recommend that parents guide their kids through sports and don't let their kids push themselves too hard. [Also] limit...kids to one sport and one league per season...if it's summer time, have them do swim team. If it's winter, have them do basketball," Plourde said.
Warning Signs: Physical signs of sports burnout include: tension, fatigue, irritability, problems with sleeping and decreased energy levels. Behavioral signs include: depression, feelings of helplessness and anger.
About Julia: While attending Avon High School, she was captain of the field hockey team, manager of the lacrosse team and part of the crew team for a year. This fall, she's heading to Western Carolina University to study athletic training.
Editor's Note: Hey, Avon Class of 2011 graduating seniors! Do you want your senior master project featured on Avon Patch? E-mail the information to Jessie.Sawyer@patch.com, along with a photo of you and your project. Parents, you can submit on behalf of your children as well. We will be spotlighting one senior mastery project a day, Mondays through Fridays, throughout the entire summer.
