Bolingbrook Tee Ball Association

We at the Bolingbrook Tee Ball Association consider the health and safety of our players as our highest priority. To this end, we have partnered with AMITA Health to help us provide and care for all of our players. As part of this partnership, AMITA has provided us with our own sports medicine outreach liaison. As a member of Bolingbrook Tee Ball, if your child or family member has an injury you can call our sports medicine team at any time, day or night. Simply inform them that you are with Bolingbrook Tee Ball and they will assist you with any questions you may have and provide quick access to the AMITA health system. This service is COMPLETELY FREE for anyone involved with Bolingbrook Tee Ball! You will not be billed for calling and they encourage you to call with any injury concerns, no matter how minor they may seem. Our outreach liaison is Brittany Palomar. She can be reached via email at brittany.palomar@amitahealth.org  or via phone at 224-273-2416.

Major injuries at this age are exceedingly rare, but a variety of minor bumps and bruises can be fairly common. To help keep parents informed about the best ways to keep their children safe, our partners at AMITA health have provided us with some helpful tips for some of these more common injuries. Information on all of these can be found below with strategies for preventative measures. Please help us make sure we have a fun and safe year by following these tips and making sure your child comes prepared to all of the games. No one knows your child better than you do, so if you suspect an injury or illness, please communicate these concerns to the coach immediately. 

Thanks! Here's hoping for an injury free year!

A variety of common injuries can occur while playing tee ball or baseball. While these injuries don't happen very often in tee ball, they do start to become more common as players age and start playing in coach pitch or player pitch leagues. Proper stretching is good to help minimize the risk of most of these injuries, but even well prepared players will likely experience all of these issues at least once in their playing career. Some of the more common spots injuries are:

• Cramps - Muscle spasms frequently caused due to inadequate hydration
• Sprain - Occurs when a ligament becomes stretched too far during the course of exercise
• Strain - Another type of ligament based injury
• Tendonitis - Inflammation of tendons that can occur due to overuse

Suggested treatment and more information for all of these injuries can be found here. As always, please consult a doctor if you feel concerned or think it is warranted. 

Although major injuries are very rare for the age range of our players, things like cuts and scrapes are exceedingly common. It is very easy to scrape a shin or an elbow either by falling or diving for the ball. Fortunately, these injuries tend to be very minor and can be treated out home. Make sure to thoroughly clean the wound with soap and water or an anti-microbial ointment like rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. These things will not only help minimize the risk of infection, but they can help the wound heal more quickly as well. Since we play in the grass and the dirt, it is very easy for infections to occur if the scrape is not cleaned properly.

More information on how to treat these minor injuries (and when to contact a doctor if needed) can be found here. 

While dehydration most typically occurs in hot and sunny weather, it can occur during any prolonged exercise if not enough liquid is consumed. It is very easy for a young child to forget to keep up with drinking enough water, especially if they are excited about practice or a game. Coaches and parents should remind the players to drink some water in between every inning if possible. It is not advisable to drink other liquids, especially soda or other high sugar beverages, as that can make dehydration worse. Limit liquids to water or sports drinks during game and practice times, and make sure frequent water breaks occur especially during times of high heat.

Mild dehydration can frequently be treated yourself. Administer water at a steady rate, making sure not to overhyrdrate too quickly. Try to keep your child in a shady or cool area if possible to minimize water lost due to sweating. If you suspect severe dehydration (dizziness, disorientation, or increased heart rate and breathing), please consult a doctor immediately. 

For more information on proper hydration, please check here. 

One of our more common injuries is heat related illness. We try to play our games as early as possible to minimize your child's exposure to high temperatures, but during the summer months it can get quite hot on our field. Constant hydration is a must during these times. Please make sure your child is drinking enough water in between innings. It is a good idea to bring your own water bottle inside a cooler or thermos if temperatures get very high and keep it cool until your child needs it.

Your child will be removed from the game immediately if we notice any disorientation or extreme lethargy. In server instances, vomiting can occur. If you suspect heat related illness, please administer cold water or sports drink until symptoms subside. If symptoms progress or get worse, or your child stops sweating please contact 911 immediately. 

More information on preventing heat illness can be found here.

An important part of pre-game preparations is the applications of sunscreen. While our uniforms are designed in such a way to try and minimize the risk of sunburns, the best way to ensure your child doesn't get a sunburn while playing is the proper application of sunscreen prior to the game starting. It is highly recommended you use a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher depending on your child's skin tone. Please do this roughly 15 minutes prior to the game to ensure some protection throughout the entire game. It is also highly advisable to use either a waterproof of sweat proof sunscreen to make sure it last throughout the duration of the game. It is important to apply it evenly on arms, the back of the neck and the face as these tend to be the areas that most frequently get burnt.

If your child does suffer a mild sunburn, using aloe vera or some ibuprofen can help minimize the pain. As always, consult your doctor if you have concerns.

More information about keeping your child safe from sun exposure can be found here.