Ever wonder at times when a sign is posted and it seems to contradict the intended message?

Like when you drive south from Amarillo, Texas. As you approach this old run-down town, you see the sign that reads “Happy, Texas – population 15.” How happy can you be living in conditions that are depressing, with only 15 residents?

Here is one that is in our own backyard: “No noisemakers allowed.” So, I turned to my soft speaking wife, who did her “yahoo” cheering sound as the Federal Way Hawks scored a touchdown, and said, “Sshh, no noisemaking allowed.”

How could you keep a Nana, parent, sibling, a friend and the cheerleaders from not making noise during a football game? I know that the intended message is referencing noisemakers such as horns, whistles, etc. But, giving it thought, the best instrument and at times the loudest noisemaker is the human being. Whether it be the parent instructing his child where and how to play, the happy parent/grandparent that cheers on as Juanito finally gets to play the last 39 seconds of the game, or the fan that just loves the game — they all can make noise that will hopefully result in a positive way.

We may not agree or be synchronized to the same beat of the drum. But we all can offer encouragement along with supportive and loud cheering to our boys and girls who work hard to hopefully get a chance to step on their field of dreams. I am an advocate that our children and youth need healthy sports programs complemented with a healthy organization.

But, I am also a stronger advocate that it must be a safe environment that provides good staff, equipment and especially an efficient medical toolbox that meets the standards for usage in a youth sporting event.

The other day, I attended two local youth football games, in which the issues of injuries and the provision of a standardized medical kit became a relevant “noisemaker” topic. Unfortunately, two participants were injured and both had seemingly similar scenarios: Medical equipment that could provide that “band-aid” fixture until the child receives medical attention from a certified emergency person.

One youth broke his wrist and needed a sport orthopedic doctor to realign and set the broken bones in place. The second injury occurred in the afternoon when a visiting opponent also suffered an arm injury, and a 911 call was made in which our great fire department responded promptly. In both cases, there was not available the proper medical tool — in this case, a splint to assist in providing the immediate attention to the hurting youth.

If this is not a noisemaking issue, then I believe that we have missed the mark in understanding the holistic perspective of youth sports. There was a medical expert on the sidelines, yet he didn’t have the adequate splint to put on the injured player. However, kudos to this savvy doctor: A hunt for a cardboard box was implemented and a splint was constructed. If I may borrow today’s urban youth lingo, he would say that it was a “ghetto” looking splint, but it sufficed as the mother drove her heartbroken son to the hospital.

You may be reading this and thinking: If it worked, what’s the problem? The competitive culture of most organized youth sports is now so intense, it threatens not only the morale and character development of children, but their physical safety as well.

According to the American Trauma Society, more than 3.5 million youth ages 14 and under suffer from sports and recreation related injuries each year. America may be going through an economical crisis, but the introduction of children to sports at age 5 or under is on the continual increase.

Then you add to the equation the super competitive sports culture where parents are spending thousands of dollars for specialized tutoring and coaching that will hopefully get their child to the big leagues. The need for an efficient medical kit on the sidelines becomes even more an imperative.

You can have the best doctor on the sidelines, but if the doctor doesn’t have the tools and has to be looking for cardboard boxes, then I conclude that we are in trouble and risking the safety of our children and youth. And don’t give me that rationale of “when I was a kid, we sucked it up” or “we were tougher than today’s kids” because these are your children — and not you replaying your memories.

I can still hear the voices cheering from the crowd. Some yelled “go — hit hard.” Others yelled “that’s my boy — that’s why you it” and others just made noise. Even though the two games split in victory, both are an example of a situation that unless we make it a serious issue, all the children and youth are potential losers.

So it was on that Sunday. Those injured players left the game with more than broken bones; they left with broken hearts.

So, turn on the imaginary Seahawks or Huskies on the giant screens and put the common cheer by the home team that encourages the fan to make noise — and let’s make noise.