to play most was Uniontown because their coach, Jim Render, did the best job of preparing his teams. Carl and then USC School District superintendent Dr. Niles Norman interviewed and hired Jim in 1978. This past season, Coach Render completed his 35th year as USCHS head football coach. Dr. Norman is quoted as saying “Hiring Jim Render was the best thing I ever did.” I do not personally know Ernie Koontz, but I do know that he has had a long and successful record as the USC girls’ basketball coach. These coaches and others in the District have not only produced WPIAL championships, but have encouraged their players to be student-athletes, as well. They serve as good mentors in that regard. USCHS coaches are not involved with the Little League program. Each functions independently. But it’s obvious that the kids who played Little League and who developed their skills and have a liking for a sport or two want to continue playing in high school. Instilled in them by the USCAA are some basic training and fundamentals. The high school benefits from the Little League programs. Those who choose to play sports are far better for what they have learned at the Little League level. Those who don’t continue to play sports at the high school level realize they are better positioned for other activities. Upper St. Clair is blessed to have so many dedicated men and women organizing sports opportunities for the youth in the community through the USCAA. Further, USC is blessed with dedicated coaches at all levels of play. The discipline acquired when competing at any sports level is, in itself, a valuable life lesson that all children should experience. There are some changes happening in our current sports culture, specifically around the subject of brain concussions. Parents are more apprehensive about their boys playing football. The number of boys participating in youth football has dropped in recent years. The assumed reason centers on the concern of concussions and their possible negative and lasting effects. The potential for concussions exists not only in football, but in other sports, as well. Football helmets help to reduce the consequences of head injuries as a result of impact. The quality and safety of helmets are continually assessed and improved at all levels of football, from youth to professional. In baseball, batting helmets are a guard against bean balls. But with few exceptions, including hockey, other sports do not mandate headgear. The potential for head collisions and concussions, however, remains.
The major incidences of concussions occur in professional football, where players are bigger and stronger. Efforts at that level are being intensified to improve helmet safety features and establish stricter rules to prohibit helmet-to-helmet contact. In talking with USC football coach Jim Render, he noted that the team experienced one concussion last year, but the injuries were mostly of ankles and knees, pretty typical of most years. Jim recently attended a conference where medical experts discussed concussions, among other topics. Numerous medical experts are studying various kinds of brain disorders, including concussions, of which there are many. Today, so much more is known about treating players who concuss. Not long ago, especially in professional football, a player frequently played immediately after a concussion, without proper evaluation and treatment. That’s now been corrected. Jim stated that the consensus of many experts in the field regarding youth, high school, and even college football was that the benefits from football, as well as from all competitive sports, outweigh the risk of injury. It’s quite a dilemma and decision for parents to help their children decide which sports among the many offered they should play. The men and women involved in coaching and serving on the USCAA believe that Little League sports play an important role in a young person’s character development. Yes, there is risk of injury, but there are risks involved in most anything of significance to a person’s growth and development. There’s risk involved when a teenager takes the family car out of the driveway. You hold your breath until they return home and pray for their safety while they are away. There’s risk involved in being on the debate team or trying out for a part in the school play or any other activity that involves competition. We grow to be the adults we are by taking risks and solving problems, learning from our mistakes and failures along the way. It’s a tough call for parents to let go of their child’s hand and let him take a risk. But a risk taken can be a meaningful contributor to a child’s normal development. As parents, the support you can offer your child will give him every opportunity for a positive experience. And while “good old risk” is forever present, know that the many benefits of sports—as well as the outcome and the learning along the way—outweigh the potential for the associated risks that go with it. n Visit www.uscaasports.org to learn more about the Upper St. Clair Athletic Association (USCAA).
USCAA board members, front row, left to right: Bob Kerber, Matt Pollock, Jim Wilding, Jenn Andrejcik, Bill Barnard, Dave McClintock, Jay Sukernek, Phil Tanner; back row: Joe Krolcyzk, Phil Elias, Ed Albert, John Tarcson, Erik Lund, Jeff Conn, Tom Burke, Bill Friday; not pictured: Roseanne Geyer, Glenn Groninger, Jim Meyer, Brett Russell, Brian Seery, Nate Snyder. Photo courtesy of Nancy Barnard. Summer 2014
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