THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AND FOCUSED COMING UP, PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR THOSE IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

WE'LL LEARN MORE ABOUT THE EFFORTS.

ONE GROUP IS MAKING TO PROVIDE CARE AND UNDERSTANDING FOR THOSE IN NEED OF SUPPORT.

A NEW LAWSUIT AIMS TO UNDO THE REDRAWING OF FLORIDA'S CONGRESSIONAL MAPS AND SOME CALL IT GERRYMANDERING.

BUT GOVERNOR DESANTIS CELEBRATES AFTER SIGNING THE MAPS INTO LAW.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO FINDING THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE FOR A SOUTHWEST FLORIDA TENNIS TOURNAMENT, WE'RE LEARNING HOW AGE HAS NO LIMITS AND IT CAN GIVE YOU RIGHT ON THE COURT.

HELLO, EVERYONE.

I'M LIKE.

WALTER, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

IT'S ESTIMATED THAT CLOSE TO 60 MILLION AMERICANS ARE LIVING WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS.

ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH, CLOSE TO HALF OF ALL AMERICANS MEET THE CRITERIA FOR A DIAGNOSABLE MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION.

THAT NUMBER IS CONSISTENT WITH THE INDIVIDUALS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WHERE NEARLY 2 MILLION TIMES EACH YEAR PEOPLE WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS ARE BOOKED INTO JAILS AS PART OF OUR LOOK INTO MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH.

WGCU JENNIFER CRAWFORD LEARNED ABOUT THE EFFORTS.

ONE GROUP IS MAKING TO PROVIDE AWARENESS ABOUT THE CRIMINALIZATION OF MENTAL HEALTH.

>> MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH.

THE NATION'S GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION TO HELP THOSE INDEED OF MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES IS NOT ME.

THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS.

NOW ONE FOCUS OF THE GROUP IS TO PROVIDE HELP FOR THOSE IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

SHANNON SCULLY IS THE DIRECTOR FOR JUSTICE POLICY AND INITIATIVES AND SHE JOINS US NOW FROM WASHINGTON, D.C., MISKA LEE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> I THINK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY.

>> CAN YOU FIRST GIVE US AN OVERVIEW OF NAMI AND WHAT ITS CORE MISSION REVOLVES AROUND.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

NAMI IS THE NATION'S LARGEST GRASSROOTS MENTAL HEALTH ORGANIZATION.

WE REPRESENT PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT ANYONE WHO IS IMPACTED BY MENTAL ILLNESS IS ABLE TO ACCESS CARE AND LIVE IN A COMMUNITY THAT CARES.

WE ARE LOCATED IN ALL 50 STATES.

AND SO THERE IS A NOMINEE LIKELY IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SUPPORT WITH MENTAL HEALTH OR WITH SOMEONE YOU LOVE WHO IS EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH SYMPTOMS.

>> NAMI RELEASED A BRIEF ON TRENDS AND MENTAL HEALTH AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE STATE POLICY RECENTLY HOW PERVASIVE IS THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IN OUR LOCAL JAILS AND IN OUR PRISON SYSTEM.

>> NATIONALLY, PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS ARE OVER REPRESENTED IN OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS.

AND I OFTEN SAY THAT WHEN OUR MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM FAILS, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ENDS UP BEING THE SAFETY NET THAT WE USE TO CATCH THOSE PEOPLE.

AND SO PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY INCARCERATED IN INVOLVED IN OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

WELL, OLD ESTIMATES ESTIMATES BY THE BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE IS THAT ABOUT 44% OF PEOPLE WHO ARE INCARCERATED IN JAILS AND ANYWHERE BETWEEN 35 TO 40% OF PEOPLE WHO ARE INCARCERATED IN STATE AND FEDERAL PRISONS.

ARE IMPACTED BY AND MENTAL ILLNESS AND HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION.

SO THERE'S DEFINITELY HIGHER RATES.

THESE RATES ARE HIGHER THAN WHAT WE FIND IN COMMUNITIES >> WHY HAS OUR SYSTEM PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM?

>> OUR FAILURE FOR PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND THEN FOR PEOPLE WHO END UP IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM REALLY STARTS WITH OUR COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM, A MENTAL HEALTH, AND AND THE SYSTEM FOR PEOPLE TO ACCESS MENTAL HEALTH CARE HAS NEVER BEEN BUILT OUT OR FUNDED IN THE WAY THAT IT NEEDS IN ORDER TO MEET THE DEMAND FROM OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> WHAT DO YOU HOPE HAPPENS AND WHAT CAN BE DONE LEGISLATIVELY ACROSS THE NATION AND HAVE A TRICKLE DOWN EFFECT EVEN TO OUR STATE LEVEL TO HELP WITH THIS.

THIS GROWING CRISIS.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> YOU KNOW, EVERY EVERY POLICYMAKER HAS A ROLE TO PLAY AND TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE RECEIVE MENTAL HEALTH CARE THAT THEY NEED IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND ARE DIVERTED AWAY FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND THAT STARTS WITH PROVIDING FUNDING AND RESOURCES TO COMMUNITIES SO THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO INVEST IN A MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM THAT REACHES OUT TO PEOPLE AND MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT AND PROVIDING THEM WITH THE CARE AND RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED.

>> HOW HOW PROBLEMATIC IS FUNDING FOR HELPING PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ILLNESS.

>> WELL, DEFINITELY A PROBLEM THAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY WITH CHANGES THAT HAVE HAPPENED TO MEDICAID.

WE ANTICIPATE.

MEDIC CHANGES.

WE WE THAT WE SAW PASSED LAST YEAR THROUGH HR ONE MADE 10 CHANGES TO MEDICAID AND WE ARE AS NAMI ARE ANTICIPATING THAT THAT IS GOING TO IMPACT AND PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO ACCESS THE HEALTH INSURANCE THAT THEY NEED AND THUS THE CRITICAL CARE OF THAT THEY MIGHT NEED FOR THEIR MENTAL HEALTH CARE.

WE'RE DOING A LOT OF ADVOCACY BOTH AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND AT AND ACROSS THE STATES TO ENSURE THAT THE IMPACTS FROM HR ONE ARE MINIMAL.

WE'VE ALSO SEEN CUTS TO MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS, YOU EARLIER THIS YEAR WE SAW WE SAW GRANT PROGRAMS CUT AT SAMPSON AND THEN THEY WERE READ IT.

READ.

THEY WERE LATER REINSTATED.

THESE ARE THE TYPES OF OF OF FUNDS THAT REALLY GET TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND REALLY ALLOW THE ORGANIZATIONS AND THE PROVIDERS THAT ARE CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE MENTAL ILLNESS TO DO THEIR JOBS.

AND SO THESE TYPES OF FUNDING SOURCES, YOU NEED TO BE INCREASED.

THEY NEED TO BE STABLE IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE THAT THE SERVICERS ARE THERE WHEN PEOPLE NEED THEM.

>> HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS MONTH, PROVIDING AWARENESS AND GETTING THE WORD OUT HOW CRITICAL IS THAT IN SUPPORTING YOUR MISSION?

>> RECENT AWARENESS ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS IS ABSOLUTELY CENTRAL TO THE MISSION OF NAMI.

WE FIND THAT WHEN WE EDUCATE COMMUNITIES ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS AND REALLY START TO BREAK DOWN THE STIGMA THAT IS CONNECTED TO MENTAL ILLNESS.

THAT WE'RE BETTER ABLE TO FOCUS OUR FOLKS FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE, REACHING OUT FOR ASSISTANCE BECAUSE WE REMOVED THE FEAR.

WE'VE REMOVED THE UNCERTAINTY ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT THIS MONTH IS ALL ABOUT IS MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE NO WHAT MENTAL ILLNESS IS UNDERSTAND WHERE THE RESOURCES ARE AND FEEL REALLY EMPOWERED TO REACH OUT FOR HELP WHEN THEY NEED IT.

>> THANK YOU, MISS CALI.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> IF YOU OR ANYONE, YOU KNOW, IS DEALING WITH A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, THERE IS HELP YOU CAN CONTACT A SUICIDE AND CRISIS LIFELINE BY CALLING 9, 8, 8, NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAPS FOR SIGNED INTO LAW BY GOVERNOR DESANTIS.

BUT A NEW LAWSUIT ALREADY LOOKS TO UNDO THE RECENT REDISTRICTING.

ON MONDAY, GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS OFFICIALLY SIGNED OFF ON NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAPS PROCLAIMS THEY WOULD HELP REPUBLICANS PICK UP 4 MORE SEATS IN THE U.S.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

THE GOVERNOR MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA WHERE HE POSTED AN IMAGE OF THE NEWLY REDRAWN MAPS AND HE STATED SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED ANOTHER POST IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED, SAYING PROMISE MADE PROMISE, KEPT.

BUT IMMEDIATELY AFTER HE SIGNED THOSE MAPS INTO LAW, THE SUIT WAS QUICKLY FILED BY THE CIVIL RIGHTS GROUP CALLED EQUAL GROUND EDUCATION FUNDS.

NOW THAT GROUP IS ASKING A STATE JUDGE TO BLOCK THE NEW MAPS AND REAL ESTATE.

THE ONES APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATURE IN 2022.

THE LAWSUIT CLAIMS THE NEW MAPS VIOLATE A VOTER APPROVED AT TIMES GERRYMANDERING POLICY WGCU TAKE SPOKE TO THE GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION.

THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS FOR ITS VALUATION ON REDISTRICTING.

>> I'M JOINED BY SANDY FRANK.

SHE'S THE PRESIDENT OF THE LEE COUNTY LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FRANK.

THANK YOU, KATE.

GOOD TO BE HERE.

NOW THE LEALMAN VOTERS CREATED A NATIONAL PROGRAM CALLED PEOPLE POWERED FAIR MAPS.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT CAUSE FOR YIELD?

>> PROGRAM WAS ACTUALLY CREATED A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO BECAUSE THE FEELS THAT REDISTRICTING SHOULD BE DONE BY A FAIR AND OPEN PROCESS AND AS WE TALKED ABOUT ME COMING TODAY, I LOOKED IT UP AND ACTUALLY WAS CREATED IN 2016 SO WELL BEFORE THE CURRENT EFFORTS FOR REDISTRICTING.

AND IT WAS TO CREATE AND TO HELP COMMUNITIES AND STATES TO CREATE FAIR MAPS AND THERE'S A SET OF CRITERIA THAT GOES WITH THAT.

NO HARM HARM TO COMMUNITIES.

AND THE LEAGUE AS IT DOES WITH MANY ISSUES STUDIED THE ISSUE.

AND WE HAD NUMBER CONSENSUS THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HAVE FAIR REDISTRICTING AND DEVELOP CRITERIA THAT WE WANTED THE COMMUNITIES AND STATES TO LOOK AT WHEN THEY WERE REDISTRICTING.

SO IT'S NOT A RECENT PROGRAM FOR US, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN IN THE FOREFRONT, ESPECIALLY FOR THE FEW YEARS WITH THAT AFTER THE LAST CENSUS THAT WE WERE DONE FOR A WHILE.

BUT IT'S COMING UP AGAIN.

>> AND THEN WE'VE SEEN DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVES.

THEY'VE CALLED THIS CHANGE GERRYMANDERING.

THEY'VE CALLED IT UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

DO YOU THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME LEGAL CHALLENGES IN THE NEAR FUTURE?

>> THERE DEFINITELY WILL BE LEGAL CHALLENGES.

THERE WAS ONE FILED YESTERDAY ON FOR 4 AGAINST THE FLORIDA REDISTRICTING AND THERE ARE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE LOOKING AT WHAT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO LEGALLY.

THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION PROHIBITS GERRYMANDERING.

IT ALSO REQUIRES THAT YOU TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION AND NOT DO HARM TO COMMUNITIES OF COLOR OF UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES OF GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICTS.

SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT WHAT THE REDISTRICTING WAS AND WHAT WE DO KNOW THAT IT WAS NOT DONE IN THE SUNSHINE.

IT WAS DONE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

ACCORDING TO THE TESTIMONY AT THE HEARINGS BY ONE INDIVIDUAL WHO WORKED FOR THE GOVERNOR OVER A TWO-WEEK PERIOD WITH ACCORDING TO HIM IN THE TESTIMONY, NO INPUT FROM ANYBODY ELSE.

SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE WHOLE STATE AND POSSIBLY THE COUNTRY BEING IMPACTED BY WHAT WAS DONE AND THAT IT'S NOT REALLY A FAIR AND OPEN PROCESS.

>> WHAT ARE YOU MOST CONCERNED ABOUT AS A REPERCUSSION FROM THESE THIS CHANGE?

>> THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS I'M CONCERNED ABOUT HOW VOTERS WILL THINK ABOUT THIS, HOW THAT WILL AFFECT THEM, WHETHER THEY GIVE UP OR WHETHER THEY FIND A WAY TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD.

SO I THINK IT'S WHATEVER HAPPENS IN THE END, WHATEVER IS THE SITUATION WHEN WE VOTE IN THE PRIMARY AND ALSO AND THE GENERAL ELECTION VOTERS NEED TO TURN OUT AND VOTE THEIR CONSCIENCE, VOTE ON THEIR ISSUES.

BUT FOR THE CANDIDATES THEY THINK WILL BEST REPRESENT THEM.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT THEY MAY NOT KNOW WHAT THOSE CANDIDATES ARE RIGHT NOW AND THE CANDIDATES DON'T IN SOME CASES, I DON'T KNOW WHICH DISTRICTS THEY'LL BE REPRESENTING.

SO IT'S A VERY COMPRESSED TIME FRAME FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD AND TO MAKE INFORMED BOATS.

>> SO FOR ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS HERE IN LEE COUNTY, WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS?

>> SO THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS WAS CREATED IN 1920, NATIONALLY AFTER WOMAN FOUGHT FOR AND RECEIVED THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

AND IN LEE COUNTY SINCE 1949, OUR MISSION IS TO EMPOWER VOTERS AND DEFEND DEMOCRACY.

AT THIS POINT, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK BEING DONE TO DEFEND DEMOCRACY, BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR VOTERS TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD.

SO OUR MESSAGE TO VOTERS IN LEE COUNTY IS TO PREPARE TO VOTE.

MAKE SURE YOU'RE REGISTERED.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU REQUESTED YOUR VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT IN CASE YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO VOTE IN PERSON ON ELECTION DAY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ISSUES ARE TO REVIEW YOUR CANDIDATES AND TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES.

THE LEAK HAS SOME RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO ASSIST THAT WE DO A VOTER GUIDE.

AND SO ALL THE CANDIDATES WILL BE ASKED TO PARTICIPATE IN A VOTER GUIDE, WHICH IS CALLED VOTE 4, 1, 1, IT'S ONLINE AND WILL BE OUT AFTER THE CANDIDATES ARE FINALIZED IN THE MIDDLE OF JUNE.

AND WE ALSO WILL BE HAVING IN LEE COUNTY CANDIDATE FORUMS AND ISSUE FORMS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN PARTICIPATE AND HEAR FROM THE CANDIDATES FIRST HAND AS WELL AS TO LEARN ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT WILL BE ON THE BALLOT.

THERE WILL BE SOME VERY CRITICAL ISSUES ON THIS YEAR'S BALLOT.

AND I WANT TO SAY FIRST THAT EVERYONE SHOULD THINK ABOUT VOTING AND VOTE IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION BECAUSE DECISIONS WILL BE MADE.

SO WHATEVER YOUR PARTY AFFILIATION IS, STILL WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE.

A NON-PARTISAN CANDIDATES, INCLUDING THE SCHOOL BOARD AND SOME OF THE CITIES AND SOME OF THOSE VOTES WILL DETERMINE WHO WAS ACTUALLY ELECTED AND IN SOME SITUATIONS THERE WILL BE A GENERAL.

THEY WILL GO TO THE GENERAL ELECTION.

BUT THERE MAY BE DECISIONS MADE IN THE PRIMARY.

SO I WANT TO URGE EVERYONE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, AND THE GENERAL THAT THEY DO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON ISSUES THAT IMPACT ALL OF THEM, INCLUDING WEATHER.

THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND THE COUNTY SHOULD BE ELECTED AT LARGE AS THEY ARE NOW ARE BY SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICTS AS HE'S PROPOSED.

SO I AGAIN, ALL VOTERS SHOULD BE INFORMED AND PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTION ELECTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE PROCESS TO TAKE SOME REALLY IMPORTANT WORK FOR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AND BE FRANK.

THANK YOU, KATE.

MY PLEASURE.

>> AND YOU CAN STAY INFORMED ALL THE POLITICAL HAPPENINGS ACROSS THE SUNSHINE STATE BY HEADING TO OUR WEB SITE DOT ORG ACROSS FLORIDA.

HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL.

THOSE ENTERING THE PLAYOFFS WITH MANY STUDENT ATHLETES PUSHING THEIR BODIES TO THE LIMIT FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP.

BUT THIS IS LEADING TO A CONCERNING TREND.

THE RISE IN THROWING INJURIES.

I MEAN, ARM AND SHOULDER PROBLEMS SOMETIMES MEETING MAJOR SURGERY, WGS USED EDDIE BYRNE FARMS.

MORE ON HOW PARENTS CAN KEEP THEIR KIDS SAFE AND TAKING THEM OUT.

>> SO FOR MORE ON THE RISE AND THROWING INJURIES IN YOUTH SPORTS, I'M JOINED BY JASON'S AROUND SKI CHIEF OF THE SPORTS MEDICINE DIVISION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA'S DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION.

DOCTORS ARE AS KEEN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

SO BASEBALL FANS REELING TWO-TIME DEFENDING CY YOUNG WINNER TARA SCHOOL BOWL MISSING TIME FOLLOWING ARTHROSCOPIC SURGERY.

BUT NOW IT APPEARS THAT MAJOR INJURIES ARE BECOMING MORE COMMON WITH HIGH SCHOOLERS.

EVEN LITTLE LEAGUERS.

WHY HAS THERE BEEN AN UPTICK IN THROWING INJURIES IN KIDS?

WELL, IT'S A COMPLICATED >> QUESTION.

I THINK THE ANSWER THERE'S A COUPLE ANSWERS AND COUPLE REASONS WHY ONE IS THERE'S BEEN A RISE WAS CALLED SPORT SPECIALIZATION, WHICH IS WHERE AN ATHLETE FOCUSES HIS OR HER TIME ON ONE TICKER SPORT CLOSE TO YEAR-ROUND AND GIVES OF OTHER THINGS TO FOCUS ON THAT AND SICKER IN FLORIDA.

WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO PLAY BASEBALL OR SOFTBALL ALL YEAR ROUND.

SO YOU COMBINE THAT WITH ESPECIALLY IN BASEBALL WITH THE QUEST FOR THE LOSS OF THE VELOCITY IS KEEN.

SO AS YOU ARE PLAYING MORE AND YOU'RE THROWING MORE AND THEN YOU'RE PARTICIPATING IN TRAINING PROGRAMS TO INCREASE YOUR VELOCITY.

THERE'S JUST A LOT MORE WEAR AND TEAR ON YOUR ARM.

AND IT'S BEEN THE MEDIA MORE ON THE ELBOW, ESPECIALLY AND UNFORTUNATELY WHAT HAPPENS IS KID SEE THIS COACHES SEE THIS.

PARENTS SEE THIS.

SO PERMEATES FROM MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL DOWN TO THE PROFESSIONAL LEAGUES, MINOR LEAGUES TO HIGHLIGHT A LOCALLY TO BASEBALL EVENTUALLY DOWN TO HIGH SCHOOL IN TRAVEL BALL.

AND THIS HAS BEEN SORT OF AN UPTICK COMING ON SINCE THE LATE 90'S, EARLY 2, THOUSANDS.

AND NOW IT'S SORT OF EMBEDDED IN OUR CULTURE WHERE YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF KEEP UP WITH THE JONESES PHENOMENA WHERE YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN SPORT, BUT IN ORDER TO BE COMPETITIVE, YOU WANT TO KEEP UP BY DOING THESE PERFORMANCE PROGRAMS THAT WILL INCREASE YOUR VELOCITY, WHICH IS GREAT.

PROBLEM IS, AS YOU INCREASE YOUR VELOCITY, THERE'S INCREASED RISK OF THROWING INJURY, PARTICULAR WITH YOUR ELBOW.

>> AND THIS IS ALSO APPOINTING A LOT OF THESE KIDS LIVES WHERE THEY'RE STILL GROWING STILL DEVELOPING.

SO AS THEY'RE PUTTING ON MUSCLE BONES ARE STRETCHING OUT THEIR GROWING INSIDE AND EVERYTHING.

SO WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP WARN KIDS AS THEIR TRAINING OR IS IT JUST INCLUDE MORE TRAINING AND MUSCLE TRAINING.

ASIDE FROM JUST THE ACTUAL PHYSICAL PLAY?

>> NOW IT'S A GOOD THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

AND IF I HAVE THE ANSWER, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE WOULD BE DOING IT RIGHT NOW.

IT'S REALLY A CHALLENGE.

I JUST SPOKE ABOUT THIS LAST WEEK IS IT'S A BALANCING ACT BETWEEN WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR SPORTS PERFORMANCE PROGRAMS ARE PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE TRAINING ARE BEING BALANCED AGAINST INJURY PREVENTION.

AND RIGHT NOW SOMETIMES SPORTS PERFORMANCE KIND OF BUTTS UP HEADS AGAINST INJURY PREVENTION BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT SUMMER TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL PITCHERS AND SOFTBALL PITCHERS ARE GOING TO LEAD TO INCREASED VELOCITY AND LEAD TO INCREASED SUCCESS.

THEY WORK.

THE PROBLEM IS IT ALSO COMES WITH IT, INCREASED RISK OF INJURIES.

SO WE HAVE TO DEVELOP IN BLANEY'S.

WE AS SPORTS MOST AND PERFORMANCE PROFESSIONALS, THE DOCTORS THAT AFFLICT TRAINERS, THE FISCAL THERAPISTS AS WELL AS OUR SPORTS PERFORMANCE EXPERTS, THE KIDS ATHLETES, THE PARENTS, THE CAREGIVERS, WE HAVE TO ALL WORK TOGETHER TO TIE, FIGURE OUT, OK, HOW CAN WE CONTINUE TO TRAIN THESE ATHLETES TO STAY ON THE FIELD?

THE PLATE BUT NOT PUSH THEM SO MUCH THAT WE MAKE HIVE LEAD THEM TO PLACE THEY WANT DON'T WANT TO GO, WHICH IS AN INJURY AND THAT'S THE CHALLENGE YOU KNOW, KIDS ARE THROWN FASTER THESE DAYS.

THAT'S SIMPLY BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE STRAIN FIRMS ARE REALLY GOOD.

BUT WE KNOW FROM DATA FROM THE MAJOR LEAGUERS ON DOWN THE FASTER, THROW THE GREATER LIKE WOULD YOU CAN ENDURE ELBOW.

AND IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU'RE STILL GROWING ANY OF OPEN GROWTH PLATES.

YOUR BODY STILL DEVELOPING ARE GOING THROUGH PUBERTY.

YOU'RE GOING THROUGH SOME PHYSICAL MATURATION ISSUES.

AND THAT'S A REAL CHALLENGE IN HIGH SCHOOL.

>> AND THEN SPEAKING WITH THE PARENTS A LOT OF TIMES, THERE'S THE PRESSURE FOR THEIR CHILDREN TO DO WELL.

THEY WANT TO HAVE THEM, AS YOU SAID, THROUGH THE TRAVELING TOURNAMENT, THE TRAVEL PLAY 365 DAYS A YEAR IF THEY CAN.

BUT THEN THERE'S ALSO THESE PITCHING GUIDELINES.

NOW, I DON'T REMEMBER THESE FROM WHEN I WAS GROWING UP AND PLAYING BASEBALL AND MANY PARENTS SEEM TO BE UNAWARE OF THEM BEING IMPLEMENTED RIGHT NOW.

SO WHAT ARE THESE GUIDELINES?

WHAT HAPPENS IF A COACH DOES NOT FOLLOW THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THE MOST SUCCESS ON THE FIELD.

I KNOW IT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

SO MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL.

>> IN COLLABORATION WITH LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL IN 2014 AFTER YEARS OF EXPERT CONSENSUS GUIDELINES IN 2014, MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PUT OUT WHAT'S CALLED PITCH SMART AND YOU CAN GO TO THE WEBSITE.

YOU CAN HAVE YOUR AUDIENCE, GOOGLE, MLB, PITCH SMART AND MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PUT OUT THESE GUIDELINES THE BASED ON YOUR AGE TEENAGERS OF 7 ALL THE WAY TO 19 AND BASE A NUMBER OF LIVE GAME PITCHES.

HOW MUCH REST SHOULD THEN BE PERFORMED THEREAFTER.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, LET'S SAY YOU ARE AT 70 YEAR-OLD HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR.

YOU THROW 100 PITCHES DURING A START.

YOU THEN HAVE TO REST FOR 5 DAYS.

AND THERE'S ALL THE THESE GUIDELINES ON THAT.

AND WHAT HAPPENED IS MLB PUT THESE OUT.

AND THEN 2 YEARS LATER IN 2016, THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF STATE HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS, THEY HAVE A RULE THAT SAID EVERY SINGLE STATE ASSOCIATION HAD TO DEVELOP PITCH COUNT GUIDELINES FOR THEIR PICTURES.

SO WOULD A LOT OF STATES THAT IS THEY TOOK THE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PITCH COUNT GUIDELINES AND THEN EITHER USE THAT AS THEIR POLICY OR THEY DEVELOP SIMILAR GUIDELINES.

AND SO IN FLORIDA.

SO IF THE F H S A THEY HAVE ADVISED THAT WE FOLLOW MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL'S PITCH SMART GUIDELINES AND IF THE GUIDELINES AREN'T FOLLOWED, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REFER TO THE F H S A BUT WHAT THE PENALTIES WOULD BE.

>> DR JASON'S AROUND SKEEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO SPIKE TO SPEAK WITH US.

OUR PLEASURE.

THANKS SO MUCH.

>> AFTER THE BREAK AND ASSURING THE SPORT OF TENNIS IS PERFECT FOR ANY AGE.

WE'LL MEET THE FOLKS WHO ARE KEEPING THE GAME MOVING BY HADLEY.

A POSITION NORMALLY MEANT FOR YOUNGER PARTICIPANTS.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU WATCH TENNIS EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, YOU'LL SEE BALL RUNNERS SPREAD ACROSS THE COURT BETWEEN POINTS PICKING UP TENNIS.

TYPICALLY THOSE PEOPLE ARE PRETTY YOUNG.

IN FACT, THE AVERAGE AGE A BALL RUNNERS AS THE U.S.

OPEN A NEW YORK CITY.

IT'S 21, HOWEVER, AS WGCUS CARY BARBOR LEARNED A TOURNAMENT IN BONITA SPRINGS FEATURES BALL RUNNERS AT THE OTHER END OF THE AGE SPECTRUM.

>> THE FIND MARK WOMEN'S PRO TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP WAS IN FULL SWING AT THE BONITA BAY CLUB IN BONITA SPRINGS.

COMPETITORS CAME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO PLAY FOR THE $15,000 PRIZE MONEY AND A CHANCE TO ADVANCE 2 GRAND SLAM TOURNAMENT LIKE THE U.S.

OPEN AND WIMBLEDON 50.

WHAT MAKES THIS TOURNAMENT DIFFERENT IS THAT THE BALL RUNNERS WHO ARE TYPICALLY VERY YOUNG ARE ELIGIBLE FOR SENIOR DISCOUNTS, BUT AGE IS NO OBSTACLE FOR THESE RUNNERS.

THEY LOVE BEING OUT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ACTION.

JUST A FEW FEET AWAY FROM WORLD-CLASS TENNIS PLAYERS.

>> IT'S THE BEST EATEN HOUSE.

AND IF YOU'RE A TENNIS PLAYER, EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT, IT'S FASCINATING TO BE OUT THERE WITH THEM AND APPRECIATE THE SPEED OF THE SPORT.

>> DERBY BRANDENBURG IS 64.

SHE'S BEEN A BALL RUNNER FOR 6 YEARS.

NEARLY SINCE THE TOURNAMENT'S START, GARY MCMANUS AGE 65 SAYS THAT IT'S A THRILL TO SEE THE BALL COMING AT HIM AT 80 OR 90 MILES PER HOUR.

THEY TELL YOU HAVE TO STAND STILL AND YOU SEE THIS BALL COMING OUT TO A LOT OF TIMES OF A SUDDEN YOU SEE THIS ROCKET APPEAR OUT OF NOWHERE >> AND THEY'RE HEADING THE BALL BACK.

BUT THEY DO.

THEY HIT THE BALL VERY HARD.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY IT'S VERY EXCITING TO SAY.

>> THE RUNNERS WORK IN TEAMS OF 6 AND ARE ON THE COURT FOR AN HOUR.

THEY REST FOR AN HOUR.

THEN BACK ON COURT FOR ANOTHER HOUR.

DESPITE THE BLAZING FLORIDA SUN, THE BALL RUNNERS I TALKED TO SAID AND OUR ON THE COURT FLIES BY.

>> OK, YOU GUYS CAN HEAD.

>> THE TOURNAMENT EMPLOYS 150 BALL RUNNERS AND 85% OF THOSE WHO SERVED LAST YEAR ARE BACK AGAIN THIS YEAR.

50 YEAR-OLD TEAL A ROY LOVES BEING ON THE COURT WITH HER DAUGHTERS AGES 14 12.

THEY'VE BEEN BALL RUNNING TOGETHER FOR 4 YEARS.

>> I WAS AT THE NET RUNNING YESTERDAY WITH MY DAUGHTER.

ADDISON AM.

SHE'S SO FUN TO DO IT WITH AND SHE SO QUICK AND WE'RE ALWAYS GIVING EACH OTHER A LITTLE LIKE THEIRS AND SIGNALS AND I IT'S FUN BECAUSE I THINK WE WORK REALLY WELL TOGETHER.

AND THAT'S VERY FUN.

>> ROY ADDS THAT SHE LOVE SUPPORTING THE WOMEN ATHLETES WHO INSPIRE HER DAUGHTERS.

THE FAMILY ALSO HOSTS A PLAYER AT THEIR HOME EACH YEAR.

>> THIS YEAR WE HAVE A PLAYER FROM ARGENTINA AND THE KIDS LOVE GETTING TO KNOW HER AND THEY PLAY TENNIS TOGETHER DURING THE WEEK.

>> MCMANUS SAYS THE BALL RUNNERS GOAL IS TO BE INVISIBLE.

>> NOT TO BE NOTICED, NOT TO BE NOTICED BY THE SPECTATORS BY THE CHAIR UMPIRE BY THE PLAYERS.

IF WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB THAT WE'RE NOT BEING NOTICED.

>> TENNIS PLAYERS THEMSELVES, THE BALL RUNNERS SAY THAT WORKING THE TOURNAMENT INVIGORATES THEIR OWN GAME, THOUGH THEY MAY WATCH THE PROS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.

NOW.

>> WHEN YOU WATCH IT ON TV ARE ALWAYS WATCHING THE PLAYERS.

NOW, WHEN I WATCH THESE TENNIS TOURNAMENTS, I WATCH THE BALL RISE AS MUCH AS THE PLAY FOR WGCU NEWS.

I'M KERRY BARBER.

>> WELL, THANKS FOR JOINING US AND MAKE SURE YOU HEAD TO WGCU DOT ORG, WHERE YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES AND POLICE HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU NEXT TIME RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

IN FOCUS.