Nov. 10, 2014 
Youth sports don't feature the same dangerous combination of size, speed, power and aggression that defines professional sports, but injuries still remain a natural part of the game.
Even though minor injuries are often unavoidable, at Liberty Mutual Insurance Play PositiveTM we believe it is a smart policy to take measures to help prevent serious and costly injuries and to limit, identify and treat injuries when they do happen.
We sat down with USA Water Polo standout Melissa Seidemann to get her thoughts on how youth athletes, coaches and Positive Sport Parents can help prevent, treat and overcome injuries.
In our exclusive TAKE 5 interview, Melissa told us that she has a pretty solid and serious regimen to help prevent injuries from slowing her down and taking her out of the game.
"We do a lot to prevent injuries in our sport," said Melissa. "We work in the gym to strengthen some of the smaller muscles in our shoulders and hips that often get overworked. We also put an emphasis on core work, because your core can support the rest of your body. We also are serious about our nutrition, which is crucial for a healthy body."
Like most high-level athletes, Melissa has had to deal with injury and the setback that comes along with it. She told us that the support of her family was key in maintaining a positive attitude on the road to recovery.
"My injury was to my eye, so it was more about recovery than rehab for me," said Melissa. "Initially, I thought the worst. It could have been a career-ending injury, and it wasn't healing as fast as I wanted it to. Staying positive is so important. Worrying puts extra stress on your body, which doesn't allow it to heal properly. My family helped me stay relaxed and positive."
As tough as it is for an athlete to deal with and come back from injuries, Melissa believes that such experiences can teach youth athletes many valuable lessons about not just sports, but life in general.
"Injuries can teach athletes about the strength of their will," said Melissa. "While most sports injuries are physical, making a full recovery is very much a test of mental strength. Injuries teach kids that there will always be bumps in the road and obstacles to overcome, but it's how you handle them that shows your true character."
Melissa also believes firmly that coaches and Positive Sport Parents can make an impact when it comes to preventing, treating and overcoming injuries in youth water polo.
"Parents and coaches can help to support athletes to stay injury-free, but they are better utilized when an athlete has been injured and is recovering," said Melissa. "At an elite level, it is really the responsibility of the athlete to take care of their body. At younger levels, parents can be used as reminders for their children. And at all levels, coaches can be attentive to responses from their players, and design training programs with appropriate amount of rest."
To read the full TAKE 5 interview with Melissa, visit PlayPositive.com. And come back next month for another exclusive TAKE 5 interview!
At Liberty Mutual Insurance, we constantly look for ways to celebrate the countless acts of positivity shown by people every day. We created Play Positive, powered by Positive Coaching Alliance, as part of this belief to help ensure that our kids experience the best that sports have to offer in environments that promote and display positivity. We believe kids can learn valuable life lessons when coaches and parents come together to support winning in and out of the pool.
©2014 Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and Positive Coaching Alliance. All rights reserved. This material may not be distributed without express written permission. Any reproduction in whole or part by and individuals or organizations will be held liable for copyright infringement to the full extent of the law.
