This year marks the second year that chiropractors were involved with the Triple Crown Softball World Championships held at Steamboat Springs, Colorado. This town, usually known for its World Cup skiing, champagne powder, and awesome scenery, has been the sight of Triple Crown slow pitch softball championships for a couple of years. Athletes from as far away as Guam and England compete for the coveted title of champion in six different divisions for both men and women. This year, as in the last year, on four separate weekends between 90 and 150 different teams were represented each weekend with an average roster of 14-20 players.
Chiropractic care was officially offered for the athletes in 1994. The program was so successful that Triple Crown Tournaments continued to offer chiropractic care to not only the world championships but also regional tournaments. Dr. Steven Summey of Longmont, Colorado, was appointed the Triple Crown national event co-ordinator. Dr. Tim Rinn of Steamboat Springs, was appointed the regional coordinator and has also helped with treatment when needed, and organizing the doctors for the national tournaments held in Steamboat Springs.
Triple Crown Softball is a division of Triple Crown Tournaments of Fort Collins, Colorado. It was started in 1982, and has grown from 183 teams participating to almost 4,000 in 1991. There are approximately 135 cities and over 40 regions, including international divisions. The tournaments in Steamboat Springs are the finals for all of these divisions.
Scheduling for the doctors was fairly intense, usually starting on Friday morning at approximately 9:00 a.m. and progressing until 8:00-10:00 p.m. Saturday's schedule was from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00-5:00 p.m., and Sunday was from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00-3:00. The doctors would see between 135 and 180 patient athletes per weekend. The athletes were usually treated at a central location, but on multiple occasions the doctors would be called to the field to assess an injury. The majority of the injuries the doctors worked with were abrasions to the skin, and for these injuries the standard protocols for dealing with bodily fluids were used. The doctors were also required on a number of occasions to assess head, spine, and extremity injuries, and several times had to refer to emergency personnel or the hospital emergency room for care or assessment. Many of the athletes were seen multiple times, because of retaping, changing dressings or follow-up adjustments. Sometimes these follow-up visits would be due to a new injury. Because of the enthusiasm of the athletes, many other athletes who had not been under chiropractic care were introduced to chiropractic in a very positive environment, and saw that chiropractic and chiropractors were not just for bad backs, but that the doctors were competent to evaluate and treat many other injuries without drugs or surgery.
The success with Triple Crown Softball has led to many other openings including doctors being available in Triple Crown In Line Skating Championships and Triple Crown Soccer Championships.
A special thanks to all the doctors who donated their time and expertise. Any doctors who would be interested in helping next year or in 1996, should contact Dr. Steve Summey, 421 21st Ave, #2, Longmont, Colorado 80501; tele: (303)-779-2939. Dr. Tim Rinn can also be contacted: P.O. Box 773295, Steamboat Springs, Colorado 80477; (303) 879-6501.
Timothy Rinn, DC, CCSP
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Editor's Note: Timothy Rinn (Palmer College 1979) has had an active practice in Steamboat Springs for 15 years, dealing with many levels of athletes from children's recreational soccer to Olympians. He received his CCSP from Northwestern College of Chiropractic in 1994, and is currently finishing the requirements for his DACBSP. Dr. Rinn, his wife, and three sons enjoy sports including skiing, soccer, basketball, and other outdoor activities. He is a member of the ACA, the ACA Council on Sports Injury and Physical Fitness, the Colorado Chiropractic Association, the Colorado Chiropractic Association Council on Sports Injuries, FICS, and the Christian Chiropractic Association.
When I graduated from chiropractic college in 1981 and started practice, I heard it all, and very little was positive. “You are a quack; you do not know what a subluxation is; you couldn’t get into a real health care program, so you chose the one that is slightly above a mail-order degree; you have no proof that chiropractic works; Are you really licensed?”, and so much more.
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