Our eight-year old son shows a natural ability for wrestling. Is this too young to start? What about injuries at this age?

Injuries can occur in any sport at any age. Research is showing injuries never seen before in children are starting to show up. This reflects the young age of many athletes and the competitiveness of sports today.

The most serious injury in wrestling is damage to the spinal cord. This injury usually occurs when the wrestler is thrown and lands on his head. In other wrestling moves, the head can be forcibly flexed to one side. The nerves in the neck going down the arm may be stretched. This injury can cause nerve damage with pain, tingling, and numbness to the arm, wrist, and hand.

For the most part, young wrestlers are supervised carefully. Coaches try to match opponents equally to prevent injury. At age eight your son will be learning some basic moves and many safety techniques. If you have further doubts, talk to the local wrestling coach about your concerns.