SGT. 1ST CLASS BRANDYN A. MCHANEY
A Company, 1st-210th Aviation Battalion
Fort Eustis, Virginia
I still remember the excitement and anticipation as our battalion's softball team prepared to participate in the co-ed post-wide tournament at Fort Eustis, Virginia. As the head coach, I was determined to lead our team to victory, and we had a great turnout of interested players. We held tryouts and had multiple practices prior to the tournament, focusing on our skills and building teamwork. I also made sure we prioritized warming up and cooling down before and after each practice and game to minimize the risk of injury.
The day of the tournament finally arrived, and we were ready to face off against the seven other teams in the single-elimination competition. We played a total of three games, and while we didn't emerge as champions, we gave it our all and had a great time. However, the tournament was not without its setbacks. During our first game, one of our players suffered a devastating injury while sprinting toward first base after hitting the ball. He felt two distinct pops in the back of his legs and later found out he sprained both hamstrings. This was a tough blow — not just for the player, but for the entire team.
Another player suffered an injury while playing catcher. He attempted to catch a pop fly, but the uneven ground beneath him caused him to land awkwardly, resulting in a torn Achilles tendon. These injuries were a sobering reminder of the risks involved in playing sports and the importance of taking preventive measures to minimize them. In addition to these more serious injuries, the rest of the team experienced the usual wear and tear of playing softball, such as sore muscles, slight sunburns and minor scrapes. While these injuries were not as severe, they still required attention and care to ensure they didn't become more serious.
Looking back, I realize there were steps we should have taken to prevent or mitigate these injuries. For example, we could have done more to prepare our players for the demands of sprinting and quick changes in direction. This could have included incorporating more agility drills and plyometric exercises into our practices to improve our players' speed, power and flexibility.
We also could have done more to address the issue of uneven ground, which contributed to our catcher's injury. This should have involved scouting out the playing field before the game and identifying any potential hazards or areas of uneven terrain. Additionally, we could have taken steps to improve our players' ankle strength and stability through exercises, such as calf raises and single-leg balances.
In the future, we will be taking a more proactive approach to injury prevention. This will involve incorporating more preventive exercises and drills into our practices, as well as taking steps to identify and mitigate potential hazards on the playing field. We will also place greater emphasis on proper warm-up and cool-down routines to reduce the risk of muscle strains and other injuries. Additionally, we will encourage our players to speak up if they are feeling any pain or discomfort and to take regular breaks to rest and recover. Finally, we will provide our players with education and resources on injury prevention, including information on proper training techniques, nutrition and recovery strategies.
Overall, while the tournament was a fun and exciting experience, it was also a valuable learning opportunity. We learned the importance of taking preventive measures to minimize the risk of injury and will be taking steps to implement these actions into our future practices and games. By prioritizing injury prevention and taking a proactive approach to player safety, we can reduce the risk of injury and ensure that our players are able to perform at their best.