SoccerToday Interview Series on Injury Prevention – Part 2
It takes a village… Players, parents and coaches all need to be educated of a players diagnosis and return to play protocols. Even more important, knowing how players should develop and progress in order to prevent injuries all together.
John Gallucci, Jr., is the Medical Coordinator for Major League Soccer (MLS) and oversees the medical care of 600 professional soccer players and shares his wisdom on this painful youth soccer issue.
Related Article: Gallucci on the MLS & Protecting Players from Injury
Gallucci is a dynamic expert in injury prevention, rehabilitation, sports medicine and athletic conditioning — he is also President of JAG Physical Therapy.
SoccerToday interviewed Gallucci to learn a little bit more about Gallucci and what we all need to know regarding youth soccer injury prevention.
Diane Scavuzzo: Do you only treat professionals or do you also treat youth players?
John Gallucci, Jr: I’m very fortunate in my private practice that I get to treat everybody. From patients as young as 3 years old, all the way to our oldest patient at JAG Physical Therapy who was 101 years old.
I’ve have the opportunity to treat young athletes and teach them how to develop and progress in order not to get hurt. We also do a tremendous amount of educational programs at JAG Physical Therapy for young athletes.
We treat everyone the same way and try to give them the best outcomes. And of course when we are treating athletes, get them back to return to play safely where they can’t hurt themselves again.
Diane Scavuzzo: How can youth coaches and parents realize that they might want to be more supportive and patient with their young athletes?
John Gallucci, Jr: I’ve always felt throughout my entire career that communication is the most important thing. All coaches are different, but no matter the type, coaches always want their players back on the field. At the youth level, it’s always important to educate everyone involved — player, coach and parents — of what exactly is going on with the athlete. Understanding exactly what the diagnosis is and what the research based evidence return to play is based on the injury.
For example, everyone likes to assume a player with an ACL injury should be back in 5 to 6 months. However, if we look at the research, the healing, and biology, technically you shouldn’t have an athlete with an ACL injury back on the field much before 8 or 9 months. This has been proven through research.
The best medical professionals are there to motivate your athlete not just through the pain and the suffering of the injury, but also through the process of getting back to daily living, then to sport specific exercises, and eventually to game fit.
Nobody knows an athlete better than the athletic trainer or physical therapist, so they should be engaged throughout the entire process until the athlete is back on the field and is successfully playing.
Diane Scavuzzo: What is your favorite team? Who do you root for behind closed doors?
John Gallucci, Jr: That’s a very tough question. I’ve worked with numerous teams throughout our country, whether it be football, hockey or soccer, but as a New York guy, I have to say I do cheer for the New York teams more than any other teams.
Diane Scavuzzo: If you could have any superpower, what would you chose?
John Gallucci, Jr: I would love to be Mr. Miagi. To be able to take my hands, place them on an athlete and say everything is going to be okay and have them walk off the table and return to play, just like in the movie The Karate Kid. It’s very tough when you see that face of anguish on your athlete’s face when you tell them they can’t play or it’s going to be several weeks before they can play.
Diane Scavuzzo: Do you have children that play sports?
John Gallucci, Jr: I have a 20-year old daughter that plays soccer and golf and the Division 3 level at Muhlenberg College. She’s played youth sports her entire life. She is a three season varsity athlete and has excelled in soccer, basketball and golf. I also have an 11-year old son that is a gifted fencer and great lacrosse player. He also enjoys golf, which he and his sister play together.
Diane Scavuzzo: Why are sports important for youth to participate in?
John Gallucci, Jr: Sometimes people forget what sports are about. We have to understand at the youth level it’s about social integration, which increases psychological awareness. Increase psychological awareness gives us confidence and confidence makes us stronger in life. The most successful people in our country are people that have played sports and understand the concept of teamwork. It’s not just about picking up a sport, but to also integrate youth with their peers and have a fantastic time while doing it. Keeping kids involved in a sport for a longer period of time can also help with decreasing the obesity statistics in children in our country.