Athletes aren't the only ones in danger

Athletes often face injury as each season goes by whether they be lingering wounds, recurring injuries to a weakened joint or ligament or freak accidents that occur during a game. But athletes are not the only ones who face injury during these times. Fans, coaches, media and anyone who is in attendance is subject to being hit by a foul ball, a broken bat, flying puck or even an athlete who loses control of their body during a play. Unfortunately, injury is not the worst case scenario. On occasion such freak accidents have caused death to such observers not directly involved in the game.

“Spectators are a catch-22,” Paul Alvarez, Ph. D, Movement and Sports Science Department Chair and Athletic Training Clinical Supervisor at the University of La Verne said in an e-mail interview. “If you put up nets or other screens, you block the view. If you don't, they can get hit. Fans like to be close to the game, but the closer, the shorter the distance and the less time to react to an object heading in their direction.”

Alcohol may also play a factor in injuries as well since it is readily available, and fans often indulge in drinking while watching a game.

Alvarez said that alcohol obviously may contribute as it slows reactions.

“ Players expect to get hit, and for the most part, wear protective equipment. Again, their focus is on the action, which is the best defense. Same for coaches,” Alvarez said.

Last season, Minor League Baseball coach Mike Coolbaugh was killed after being struck in the head by a line drive foul ball. Coolbaugh was the hitting coach of MiLB team, the Tulsa Drillers, the Colorado Rockies’ Double-A affiliate. He was standing in as first base coach and was hit while standing in foul ball territory. Coolbaugh died an hour after being hit after being knocked unconscious and transported to the hospital.

As result of past incidents, mostly because of the death of Coolbaugh, the base coaches, are now required to wear helmets while on the field, which is now mandatory per a rule that was adopted by general managers of the MLB and MiLB at a meeting in November 2007, according to an article, “Coaches divided over helmet rule,” posted on mlb.com posted by Barry M. Bloom on Feb. 25.

Coaches are divided on this new rule, and some have decided to be defiant against it, according to the article. It was reported by the Los Angeles Times on Feb. 29 that the Los Angeles Dodgers’ base coach, Larry Bowa did not wear a helmet during an exhibition opener game and would continue to refuse wearing a helmet for the season.

"I'm willing to write out a check for whatever the fine is for every game," Bowa said. "Whatever 162 games is, I'll write out a check for it." (Taken from “Dodgers’ Bowa says he will ignore helmet rule for coaches” posted at latimes.com on Feb. 29, 2008).

“Unfortunately, accidents will happen,” Alvarez said. “Helmets or other protective gear may help, if worn properly. Too often, players and coaches will not wear protection if seen as weak. Witness the number of NHL players who still will not wear face shields on their helmets. Plus the straps on the helmets are barely tight enough to keep them on.”

Also in the article, Bowa said he reasoning for not wanting to wear a helmet is because of the discomfort they cause, the decision should be made by “veteran coaches, and he argued that broken bats are more dangerous and umpires should also be forced to wear helmets while officiating games.

“As noted earlier, players will wear minimal equipment if they do not see the need,” Alvarez said. “Coaches who are now obligated to wear helmets will try to get by with the bare minimum. While rules may encourage the use of protective equipment, people tend to try and get away with less.”

Alvarez said that student-athletes may manipulate their protective equipment to alter them by cutting pads, not wearing the proper shin guards or wear the equipment properly.

“Until you see someone get seriously hurt, most folk do not follow the intent of the rules,” Alvarez said.

While the MLB has taken precautions, other professional leagues like the National Hockey League have imposed rules for safety measures. Bloom also reported that after a 13-year-old girl was struck and killed by a puck in March 2002 in Ohio, the NHL mandated a rule that nets must be installed around the rink’s goals, according to the article posted on MLB.com.

As a clinical supervisor, Alvarez said he tells his students to always be alert.

“When in or near the field of play, focus on the action and unexpected movements,” Alvarez said. “If you need to focus on tending to an student-athlete, move away from the field if possible to avoid getting "blindsided". Do not allow yourself to get screened from the action by the student-athletes.”

Alvarez said that alertness is important so that they do not get hit by an incoming player or by the ball, which is something that he said happened to him during his first road trip as an athletic training student.

Spectators, coaches, athletes, athletic trainers and others on or near the playing field, courts and rinks are subject to injury during games. However, when safety equipment is available for those on the field, on the court or in the rink, they should be utilized.