Social networking has become a terrific way for people to interact without leaving their computers. As long as a person has an Internet connection, reliable computer and telephone, there is no need to leave the comfort of a chair or couch for any reason, except, perhaps to sleep. So far, sports and recreation participants must drag themselves away from their computer screens. Once they are done with their workouts and the few actual real life encounters they allow themselves, they return to Facebook and other sites to report to their “Friends” about their adventures. High school cheerleader Bree Vargo, of Middlefield, Ohio, is the subject of a recent social networking issue that links sport with technology.

Most people are familiar with the “Golden Rule” of treating people as you would like to be treated. This rule is considered the most essential basis for human rights. What if there was a golden rule for risk management? What if there were a principle that if followed, would reduce risk significantly and make for a much safer sports and recreation environment? I propose that the golden rule of risk management should be, “watch where you’re going”.

A number of years ago, my marathon club enjoyed a Halloween themed training run. We wore costumes and ran through a graveyard. My friend, Cindy, and I dressed in t-shirts that had pictures of beautiful, fit bodies, wearing bikinis. The great thing about those costumes (besides their obvious appeal to the opposite sex) was that they were easy to run in. I’m sure that there were some costumes that would not have been safe and so the coach should certainly have put some restrictions on the costumes of the night. Also, running in the dark is always perilous.