Youth Sports: Start Here ― Retired NFL Pro's New Book Can Help Prevent Many Sports-Related Injuries In Kids

Eugene Monroe recently announced his retirement from the NFL, citing his fear of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy as the reason. Monroe's concern is justified; this progressive degenerative disease of the brain was found in 90% of former NFL players whose brains were tested after they died.

The father of three sports-oriented kids, Eugene is passionate about helping to reduce the 3.5 million accidents that occur each year to kids playing sports. His new book, Youth Sports: Start Here, co-authored with Dr. Julie Buckley, empowers parents to help kids prevent many of these injuries, as well as recognize signs of an injury when it's not obvious. {Book provided for review/feature consideration}

It was Eugene Monroe's fear of sustaining repetitive brain injuries that could lead to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, that prompted his recent retirement from the NFL. While athletic participation is a valued part of growing up and has many benefits for children, concern about injuries to young athletes is on the rise: three and a half million young people receive medical treatment for sports injuries annually, and fully half of those injuries are preventable. Find out how in Youth Sports: Start Here (Water Street Press), by pro athlete Eugene Monroe and Julie Buckley, M.D.

Both authors are parents of active, sports-oriented youngsters themselves. Dr. Buckley's twenty years as a pediatrician and functional medicine specialist and Eugene's hands-on professional sports experience combine to create a comprehensive guide empowering parents to help their children prevent injury, recognize the sometimes-subtle signs an injury has occurred or may occur, and to heal the injuries that almost all energetic kids will, at one point or another, inevitably sustain.

Accessible science, practical advice, and fun ways to get your kids invested in their own health—Youth Sports: Start Here is a valuable guide for every parent raising his or her own, home-grown champion.

Julie A. Buckley, M.D. is the author of two books, Healing Our Autistic Children and Breast Cancer: Start Here: Everything You Need to Know About Integrative Health for the Newly Diagnosed, as well as numerous professional publications. She practices pediatrics and functional medicine in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida (http://www.pppvonline.com), where she lives with her husband and two children.

As a senior at the University of Virginia, Eugene Monroe was a unanimous All-ACC selection, voted top blocker in the conference. Drafted eighth overall in the 2009 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars, he proceeded to help the Jags rank third in the NFL in 2010 with 149.7 rushing yards per game. In 2013, Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens orchestrated a trade to acquire this star left tackle. In his short time as a Raven, Eugene was consistently graded as one of the best pass blockers in the NFL.

Eugene retired from the NFL on July 21 to have more time to focus on 4th Down Partners, his real estate development company, continue his campaign for medical marijuana, and spend much-needed time with his wife and three children. He will continue to host the Eugene Monroe All Pro Football Camp each summer, a free camp experience for kids who want to learn how to improve the fundamentals of their game.

For more information, please see www.waterstreetpressbooks.com.