Imagine the hassle of trying to get almost 1,000 student-athletes in the Tangipahoa Parish area the necessary physical examinations in one day. Yet for the North Oaks Sports Medicine staff, it’s just another day out of the year. In fact, it’s their twenty-sixth time bringing this service to the students in the area. Their free physical service is something looked forward to not only by the students, but the faculty, coaches and parents who are also actively involved in ensuring their health and safety as they take to the various fields.
We all know the impact that medical bills can have on families across the Parish, and for low income homes, it can be something that takes a back seat to other more important expenses. Even so, to know that your child has the means to have their physical done for free can mean almost everything. We all want to ensure the health and fitness of our children, and being able to have the service provided can be a great weight off our shoulders. For the nearly one thousand student-athletes in the area, this can be the first time an examination is carried out.
This also pays dividends to the schools in which these sports are carried out as well. Knowing that the students on the field representing your school colors are in good physical health and ready to face the challenges that come with playing competitive sports is great for everyone involved. North Oaks Sports Medicine, providing these free physicals, knows the benefits in bringing that knowledge to all those involved as well. With a focus on athlete health and safety, the staff that provide these physicals are trained and experienced in what they do.
If you are a student-athlete in the area, or the parent of one, Physical Day can be one marked on the calendar at the start of the school year. Knowing the benefits that it brings, it can be a major draw for those even considering pursuing sports, which can in turn be great for the schools as they see enrollment rates rise. With the right individuals on the teams, performance in the district rises as well. It’s this chain of affectations that really shows off the benefits of this program, and how it impacts the entire community through each individual case.
As you head into the stands this year to cheer on our local sports representatives, take a moment to think about all the people that have come together to make these events happen, how it takes a community behind every one of our teams to produce the results we do, and to have our teams cared for. We all want to root for our local heroes, and we should, but we just need to keep in mind as well that not all of them are clearly visible on the field. Sometimes, they’re the ones caring for those in uniform long before game day.