TAKE 5 with USA Wrestling's Joe Rau

Youth sports don’t feature the same dangerous combination of size, speed, power and aggression that defines professional sports, but injuries still remain a natural part of the game.

Even though minor injuries are often unavoidable, at Liberty Mutual Insurance Play Positive™ we believe it is a smart policy to take measures to help prevent serious and costly injuries and to limit, identify and treat injuries when they do happen.

We sat down with USA Wrestling Greco Roman standout Joe Rau to get his thoughts on how youth athletes, coaches and Positive Sport Parents can help prevent, treat and overcome injuries. 

In our exclusive TAKE 5 interview, Joe told us about the disciplined and detailed regimen he practices in order to guard against injuries and stay in the match.

“I try to prevent injuries by stretching every day,” said Joe. “Also, good weight lifting and resistance training can always help in preventing and recovering from injuries. A good diet and a consistent sleep regimen will help keep you from getting sick, too.”

Like most high-level athletes, Joe has had to deal with injury and the setback that comes along with it. He told us that “focusing on the things I could control” was key in maintaining a positive attitude on the road to recovery.

“There is a lot in sports and in life that is out of our control,” said Joe. “I decided to focus more on the things I could control, like my attitude and my work ethic. Stay positive, rehab and know that in time you can get back to the mat and start making strides towards your goals again.”

Joe shared that he has dealt with many different injuries in his wrestling career, including a broken tailbone and a ruptured appendix. He added that making sure he stayed around his teammates was vital in not letting the injuries and recovery period drain his spirits or knock him off his goal.

“It’s easy to feel left out and isolated from the team when you’re injured,” said Joe. “I think you can still feel connected with the team by staying involved with practice and competitions. Sometimes you can learn more by just watching people practicing, or you can listen to your coach better when you are not in the middle of practice. Don’t alienate yourself from the team just because you are hurt.”

As tough as it is for an athlete to deal with and come back from injuries, Joe believes that such experiences can teach youth athletes many valuable lessons about not just sports, but life in general.

“There are a lot of life lessons you can draw from sports injuries,” said Joe. “Like I said, some things are out of your control. Nothing is guaranteed. You never know in sports when you will get hurt, or how you’re your career will last, so don’t take anything for granted! Apply the lessons of dedication you learned from your sport to other parts of your life.” 

Joe also believes firmly that coaches, trainers and Positive Sport Parents can make an impact when it comes to preventing, treating and overcoming injuries in youth wrestling.

“I think parents and coaches can help prevent injuries just by informing their athletes and testing them before the year starts, to see if there are any lingering injuries, especially concussion tests,” said Joe. “I know our trainers always had talks with us before every year and throughout the year about injuries. Also, my college coach did a great job of recognizing points in the season when people were a little banged up, and he would lighten up workouts sometimes, or make guys sit out of practice or competitions sometimes, when it was best for them.”

To read the full TAKE 5 interview with Joe, visit PlayPositive.com. And come back next month for another exclusive TAKE 5 interview!

At Liberty Mutual Insurance, we constantly look for ways to celebrate the countless acts of positivity shown by people every day. We created Play Positive, powered by Positive Coaching Alliance, as part of this belief to help ensure that our kids experience the best that sports have to offer in environments that promote and display positivity. We believe kids can learn valuable life lessons when coaches and parents come together to support winning on and off the mat.  

©2014 Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and Positive Coaching Alliance. All rights reserved. This material may not be distributed without express written permission. Any reproduction in whole or part by and individuals or organizations will be held liable for copyright infringement to the full extent of the law.