YOUR CHILD IN SPORTS

Commonplace information on the mental, emotional, and physical benefits of sports--ostensibly for all parents, not just those of competitors--plus tips on avoiding hazards. Much of this is routine (don't push the pre-adolescent athlete; build up enjoyment as the goal, not winning); and even the sections on new issues manage to be old hat--girls are better than boys in some sports, worse in others, but they should be allowed to play whatever sport they want. Guidance on individual sports--from badminton to skating--is limited to hints on performance and injuries (on biking: teach your child safety habits, maintain the bike). Some advice is distinctly clinical (""Only noncontact sports . . . are advised for anyone with: only one functioning eye; an enlarged liver; skin problems such as boils or impetigo. . .""); some is simpleminded (""Is it advisable for a youngster to take part in sports when sick?""--the answer is no). In spite of an occasional small news item (Little League pitching injuries seem to be more related to the atmosphere of tension than to the length or frequency of pitching), parents--and children--will be better off with books on individual sports which have chapters pertaining to children.