PARKERSBURG - In the aftermath of the death of an 8-year-old boy, at least one area youth football league is considering mandatory physicals to play.
Local officials, who conduct thousands of sports physicals and screenings a year, agree on the need for medical evaluations for elementary-age children prior to engaging in sports.
"The elementary age group should have an annual physical regardless of playing sports or not," said Joe Leman, director of sports medicine and marketing for Mountain River Physical Therapy. "It is a critical period of development."
On Aug. 3, 8-year-old Tyler Maxwell, a youth football player in Glenville, collapsed during the opening day of practice. Maxwell was taken to a Charleston hospital where he later died.
Attempts to contact the Maxwells have been unsuccessful, and the State Medical Examiner's Office, citing state law, will not release the cause of death.
Dr. David Avery and Leman do thousands of sports physicals a year, and both men see the need to administer physicals to children.
Avery and Leman establish station sports physicals that can take 30 to 60 minutes to complete. Avery said the stations typically consist of a physical therapist who does a bone and joint evaluation, an oral exam with a dentist, a vision screening and a blood pressure and heart check.
Leman said a typical physical also includes measuring height and weight as well as health history.
"The body is changing and you want to make sure everything is growing symmetrically," Avery said.
Sports physicals are required to participate in both middle and high school sports. Many youth league sports, including contact football, do not require physicals to participate.
Mike Boyd, director of secondary education for Wood County Schools, said sports all fall under the jurisdiction of the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission. Boyd said physicals are required for anyone (sixth grade or older) seeking to play sports, including cheerleading.
Richard Lance, athletics director at Parkersburg High School, said the WVSSAC requires student athlete physicals be on file before players are permitted to practice.
Karen Brunicardi, director of elementary education for Wood County Schools, said the system works with the Wood County Recreation Commission to co-sponsor elementary-age sports, such as track and basketball. Physicals are not required.
"Just a parent permission form to participate," she said.
The I-77 Midget Football League, in which Maxwell participated, and the Mid-Ohio Valley Youth Football League, do not require physicals as a condition of participation.
Dan Westbrook, president of the I-77 Midget Football League, and Larry McCloy, commissioner of the Mid-Ohio Valley Youth Football League, both said sports physicals as requirements to play are at the discretion of the individual teams.
Westbrook said the league had no plans to introduce mandatory physicals into its bylaws. Most teams in his league require them to play, but they are not mandatory, he said.
Westbrook claims Maxwell had a physical the day he collapsed.
"The sad part about it is the kid had a physical that day. Physicals are very basic," he said.
Westbrook bristled at the notion a physical might have helped Maxwell.
"I don't know what good a physical is going to do. A physical is not going to save their life."
Leman said elementary-age kids are better served having a physical done by their pediatrician instead of a sports physical.
Avery agrees.
"A good general physical in the office, one-on-one, is a lot more than just a quick screen," he said.
Avery added for some children, a sports physical is their only exposure to health care.
McCloy said the league may change its policy regarding physicals.
