Seventy-six area coaches and athletic directors went “back to school”
on Aug. 9 to tackle prevention and treatment of sports-related injuries
at the 4th annual North Oaks Sports Medicine Coaches’ Seminar. Those
who attended the ½ day session, held in the E. Brent Dufreche Conference
Center, earned four Certified Education Units (CEUs).
Presenters included: Orthopaedic Surgeons Bryan S. Dudoussat, MD, and
Judson L. Penton, MD, of North Oaks Orthopaedic Specialty Center; Mental
Training Specialist De’Jeune’ Green of Mental Playbook Consulting;
Dr. Ryan Green of Varsity Sports; Sports Dietitian and Nutrition Consultant
Tavis Piattoly of the New Orleans Saints, Pelicans and the Tulane University
Athletic Department; and Jeffrey M. Schmitt of North Oaks Sports Medicine.
“Our goals are to help prevent sports injuries among young athletes
through awareness and keep coaches current on rules and regulations,”
asserts North Oaks Sports Medicine Supervisor Jeffrey M. Schmitt.
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“We try to get athletes back at play as quickly as possible, but
we must do so in a safe and healthy manner,” commented
Orthopaedic Surgeon Bryan S. Dudoussat, MD. His presentation on “Specific Injury and Return-to-Play Guidelines”
stressed the importance of balancing a player’s eagerness to play
with returning to his or her sport in a safe and secure manner.
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Orthopaedic Surgeon Judson L. Penton, MD, estimated that nearly 300,000 sports-related concussions and 4,000 deaths
due to heat occur annually in his presentation, “Concussion and
Heat Illness: Recognition, Treatment and Return to Play.” He added
that contact sports athletes have a 19 percent chance of experiencing
a concussion in a season, and teens, ages 15-19, are the most likely victims.
To prevent heat illness, Penton suggested making sure athletes hydrate
before and after practice and scheduling practice times at cooler parts
of the day, to name only a few strategies.
He added that coaches should limit contact to help prevent concussions
during year-round football practices (pre-season, in-season, post-season,
bowl season and spring).
Jewel Sumner High School Head Softball Coach Joanie Booty shared that
Dr. Penton’s session provided a lot of information useful to her
in her coaching role.
Dwayne Severio, Walker High School Head Football Coach and Athletic Director,
noted that even after attending this seminar for the past 4 years, he
continues to find them helpful.
“My takeaway today is stressing to my teams the importance of proper
nutrition and staying hydrated to counteract the South Louisiana heat
index we play in,” he commented.
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The recent popularity of energy drinks among high school athletes is cause
for alarm because they can elevate a student-athlete’s chances of
heat stroke if used improperly,
Sports Dietitian and Nutrition Consultant Tavis Piattoly shared in his talk on “Pre-Game Meals and Supplement Use: Danger
vs. Benefit.”
Piattoly explained that excessive intake of energy drinks could increase
the risk of heat while training in a hot environment because they provide
a quick boost of energy, followed by a rapid drop in blood pressure and
increase in an individual’s core temperature.
Denham Springs Junior High School Basketball Coach Mike Picou, who has
attended the seminar for the past 3 years, shared, “I’m already
getting things together and plan to have a nutrition guide ready before
the season starts.”
Loranger High School Assistant Baseball and Football Coach Mark Colona
also found the session beneficial and has shared the nutrition facts received
with his players.
“There was a lot of good information—especially about energy
drinks. I couldn’t wait to tell my players about it,” he commented.
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Colona remarked that he picked up some good tips during the session on
“From Conventional Shoes to Barefoot – Where Do Your Athletes
Fall” by
Ryan Green, managing partner of Varsity Sports.
Green suggested that there should be one-half inch between the longest
toe and the end of an athletic shoe, and that an athletic shoe should
be replaced after about 300-500 miles of use.
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Mental Training Specialist De’Jeune’ Green reminded coaches and athletic directors that their teams are a reflection
of them. She explained that the type of leadership methods used depends
upon the specific needs of the team, and coaches should set goals, knowing
what they can and cannot control.
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Schmitt rounded out the program with an overview of North Oaks Sports Medicine
services and LHSAA rules and regulations.
North Oaks Sports Medicine physical therapists, certified athletic trainers
and technicians are responsible for the care of many junior high and high
school student-athletes during local athletic events and varsity athletic
practices. Those enrolled in the program may benefit from: sports enhancement
and preventative medicine educational seminars; comprehensive rehabilitation
by appointment; emergency acute care; participation in an annual “Physical
Day,” which provides free physical screenings to eligible junior
high and high school athletes; and a safe and healthy environment for
sports participation.
For more information about the North Oaks Sports Medicine program, please
call (985) 230-5248 or visit
www.northoaks.tv.
From left, North Oaks Sports Medicine Supervisor Jeff Schmitt congratulates
Hammond High Magnet School Assistant Football Coach Sylvester Grays for
winning the door prize drawing for a Yeti ice chest.
From left are: North Oaks Sports Medicine Certified Athletic Trainers Josh
Dawsey and Mandy Trepagnier; Supervisor Jeff Schmitt;
and Certified Athletic Trainers Nate Borget, Jonathan Gantt and Whitney Adams.
Seventy-six area coaches and athletic directors went “back to school”
on Aug. 9 to tackle prevention and treatment of
sports-related injuries at the 4th annual North Oaks Sports Medicine Coaches’ Seminar.