As youth sports grow more competitive and offer year-round options, many parents are asking the same questions: How much is too much? Is it better for a child to play multiple sports, or specialize early? And what’s the best way to support performance without sacrificing long-term health?

A special community event designed to help families create “A Healthier Approach to Youth Athletics" will be hosted at Newtown High School on Thursday, April 30 at 7 pm.

The program is part of a Girl Scout Gold Award Project, the highest achievement in Girl Scouts, designed to bring lasting benefits to the community by addressing an important local need.

The evening will feature a Q&A with a guest panel including orthopedic surgeon/sports medicine specialist Dr Edmund Ganal, Newtown High School’s Athletic Director Matt Memoli, trainers, coaches, and students to offer their practical suggestions and strategies to help avoid sports injuries and to promote healthy participation. Each will bring a different perspective on how young athletes can train smarter, recover better, and stay engaged in sports in ways that are sustainable.

Ganal, a sports medicine specialist with OrthoConnecticut, graduated magna cum laude with Revelle Provost honors from University of California, San Diego while playing NCAA soccer. He attended Tufts University School of Medicine. He served 13 years in the United States Navy, completed a fellowship in sports medicine at the Steadman Philippon Research Institute in Vail, Colorado, and specializes in shoulder, knee, and hip arthroscopy.

Ganal is currently a team physician for the US men’s and women’s ski and snowboard teams, New Milford High School, and Joel Barlow High School in Redding. He has also provided medical coverage for Mountain Dew Winter Tour Games, Naval Academy Preparatory School, and Eagle Valley High School.

Based on a 2024 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) report, “nearly 70% of children quit organized sports by age 13, with injury and burnout cited as leading causes.”

At the same time, medical professionals and trainers are seeing a sharp rise in overuse injuries such as fractures, growth plate injuries, and tendon damage in adolescent children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 50% of these injuries are preventable.

While sports can build confidence, leadership, and lifelong fitness, injury rates — particularly overuse injuries — have become a growing concern. Families will learn about the prevalence of injuries and surgeries, what factors may contribute to them, and what makes athletes more susceptible.

Topics will include the role of growth spurts, training volume, inadequate rest, technique, strength imbalances, and the pressures that can come with high-intensity schedules and club sports.

Participants are encouraged to focus on finding ways to take a balanced approach to sports and physical training. Panelists will share recommendations about what “rest” really means, and how to make thoughtful decisions about when to reduce training load.

Parents can also ask about how and when students should consider specializing or the benefits of maintaining multi-sport participation, along with ideas for using complementary sports to support recovery and overall athletic development. For example, certain off-season activities can provide a mental break while building strength, endurance, mobility, and flexibility that transfer positively to an athlete’s primary sport.

The goal is not to discourage sports, but to help families develop a healthier, more balanced “sporting lifestyle” that supports the whole child and reduces preventable setbacks that can take athletes away from the activities they love.

The event is especially encouraged for parents of younger students, as early habits around training, recovery, and expectations can shape an athlete’s experience for years to come.

RSVP for the event by e-mailing nicholetabor2026@gmail.com. A brief survey will be conducted as part of the Gold Award requirement to assess the project’s positive impact on the community.