A prep course for the month-long World Cup soccer tournament, a worldwide pheno

5 and 24 were injured , according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission , wh

ich also lists baseball as the children 's sport with the most fatal accidents .

 About five players each year die from injuries , said Daniel J. Levy , a Baltim

ore pediatrician who is a spokesman for the American Academy of Pediatrics . At 

a consensus meeting in Boston early this year , convened by the National Youth S

ports Foundation for the Prevention of Athletic Injuries Inc. , sports-medicine 

specialists examined how to reduce the number of injuries in baseball . The grou

p recommended children wear helmets at all times while on the field and batting 

, and that they have safety goggles while batting . To help prevent injuries lik

e the death of the Hershey , Pa. , boy , the group said youths , especially thos

e under the age of 12 , should wear a padded safety vest while batting or pitchi

ng to help prevent injury when hit by balls . The experts also called for face p

rotectors for children while they are at bat and on base . They also urged the u

se of special balls with softer centers . These are not as dangerous when they h

it a child . Many of the group 's conclusions were echoed in a statement issued 

by the Sports Medicine and Fitness Committee of the American Academy of Pediatri

cs in April . Levy said the academy is highlighting baseball safety this summer 

to draw attention to `` approximately 4 million sports injuries ( from all sport

s ) to children , most of which go unreported . '' The Baltimore Orioles have le

nt a hand to the effort . The major-league team designated June 15 as `` Youth F

itness and Safety Day '' and will feature Olympic gymnast Dominique Dawes demons

trating good warm-up techniques . Levy , along with athletic trainer Katy Curran

 of the Children 's National Medical Center , is also setting up seminars on saf

ety for coaches and parents . Levy said the American Academy of Pediatrics is pr

omoting these principles : Be certain youngsters are in good physical condition 

before playing ball , are aware of proper nutrition and know the importance of w

arm-up and stretching exercises . Make sure parents and coaches know cardiopulmo

nary resuscitation ( CPR ) and have someone familiar with CPR at every game . ``

 We want to promote the aspect of parents knowing how to deal with injury and , 

God forbid , catastrophe , '' Levy said . Prevent injuries by using appropriate 

equipment . The use of the equipment advocated by the National Youth Sports Foun

dation has been controversial . Some parents and coaches have been reluctant to 

use some of the gear , arguing it interferes with how the game has been traditio

nally played . Also , says Curran , `` there is a feeling that the kids will res

ist because they 're afraid they 'll be called sissies or geeks . '' But Levy di

smisses these arguments . `` I think it 's a bogus issue , '' he said . `` The k

ids do fine , especially if the equipment is mandated for all of them . ''

 Free agency , salary wars , the designated-hitter rule , divisional restructuri

ng . What will the National Pastime stumble into next ? How about high-velocity 

ocular blunt trauma ? Because baseball accounts for more sports-related eye inju

ries than any other sport , five New York eye doctors have conducted a study of 

`` ocular trauma '' in major-league baseball players . A total of 21 players suf

fered eye injuries between July 1991 and July 1992 , the doctors reported in a l

etter to the New England Journal of Medicine . Eleven were hit by a batted ball 

including six who were up at bat themselves . Others were hit by a thrown ball ,

 injured in a collision with another player , caught dirt in the eye or simply r

ubbed their eyes the wrong way . Five of the injuries forced a player to miss on

e or more games . The severest injury was to a pitcher hit by a line drive . He 

suffered bleeding , swelling and inflammation in the eye and a scratched cornea 

. All eventually recovered full vision . The relatively large size of a baseball

 compared , say , with a racketball or the sharp end of a stick actually makes i

t less dangerous to the eye . A baseball is more likely to strike the bony surro

undings of the orbit , rather than reaching the eyeball itself . The Consumer Pr

oduct Safety Commission estimates 39,526 eye injuries from sports or recreation 

were treated in hospital emergency rooms in 1991 . Baseball accounted for 18 per

cent of those more than any other sport . Baseball was the most common cause of 

eye injuries in youngsters age 5 to 14 , second to basketball in 15 to 24 year o

lds and third behind basketball and racket sports in those 25 and older . For pl

ayers at bat or in the on-deck circle , the doctors recommend use of a plastic t

ransparent face guard that attaches to the batting helmet and protects the face 

and eyes .

 I 'm an opera fan , and I was determined on a recent trip to Milan to get a tic

ket to La Scala , one of the world 's most famous opera houses . I phoned and fa

xed Italy weeks before I left home , but failed to book a seat until the last mi

nute and then only after I showed up at the box office . What luck , but what a 

hassle . One of the great delights of Europe is the abundance of top-rate cultur

al presentations theater , opera , ballet and concerts . But one of Europe 's gr

eat challenges , at least at the major performance halls , is getting a ticket f

or the day you are going to be in town . Often it is difficult to find out in ad

vance what will be playing or even whether a performance is scheduled . But ther

e are ways to get this information and to get tickets . If you want to reserve s

eats before you depart , at least four U.S.-based organizations book shows in Gr

eat Britain , France , Russia and elsewhere in Europe . Tourism information offi

ces can provide some help , and so can the concierge in the hotel where you will

 be staying . But sometimes your best bet is to trust your luck at the box offic

e . This is the strategy of John Philip Couch , author of `` The Opera Lover 's 

Guide to Europe . '' So much opera is performed in so many cities , he says , th

at you should be able to get a seat on the spot almost anywhere except at major 

theaters . Even if the box office is sold out , you may be able to buy from a ti

cket holder on the street , and many theaters sell standing-room tickets an hour

 or two before performances and , at the last minute , reserved tickets that hav

e not been picked up . `` With a Eurailpass , a recent copy of Thomas Cook 's ``

 European Timetable , ' and lots of stamina , '' Couch says , `` it is conceivab

le that you could see 15 different operas in 15 different cities in the same num

ber of days . '' My own experience has taught me to try to book in advance if th

ere is a performance I absolutely want to see which is why I began working on a 

ticket to La Scala as soon as I knew the date I would be in Milan . First I call

ed the Italian Government Tourist Office in New York , which maintains a schedul

e of performances . An information clerk gave me the fax and phone number of the

 La Scala box office . So far , so good . I immediately faxed La Scala and just 

as quickly ran into a big road block resulting from the theater 's complex ticke

ting procedures . La Scala replied promptly , but noted that I had missed its de

adline for advance ticket sales although my trip was still weeks away . So I pho

ned La Scala , talked to an English-speaking official and got this explanation :

 For each production , La Scala sets specific time periods for seat requests fro

m abroad ; these are listed in the theater 's `` Postal Bookings Calendar . '' I

 planned to be in Milan on April 21 , which meant that my fax should have been d

ated between Feb. 16 and March 3 , the official told me . I had missed by a few 

days . Confusing ? Yes . Aggravating ? Oh , yes . But this is the way it is done

 . Obviously , I began my quest for tickets too late . `` Try at the box office 

when you get here , '' the official advised . And so I did . In mid-afternoon on

 the day of the performance , I checked in at the counter . `` Sold out , '' the

 clerk said , which was what I had expected . But as I turned to go , he asked ,

 `` Just one ticket ? '' I nodded , he punched some commands into his computer a

nd out popped a $ 35 ticket in the First Gallery . I don't know where he found t

hat ticket , but I had my seat at La Scala . Not all European tickets are so har

d to come by . Among the helpful resources : Booking offices : For a fee , sever

al U.S.-based firms can reserve seats in advance in selected European theaters .

 Good Show ! London Theatre Information & Booking Service of Richmond , Calif. ,

 ( 510 ) 236-5126 , specializes in London performances . Allegro Enterprises Inc

. of New York City , ( 800 ) 666-3553 or ( 212 ) 666-6700 , books tickets to Eas

tern European theaters , and especially to opera and ballet productions at the f

amed Kirov Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg and the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow

 . Keith Prowse & Co. of New York City , ( 800 ) 669-8687 or ( 212 ) 398-1430 , 

is a ticket agency for cultural and sporting events throughout Great Britain and

 Ireland and for many theaters in Paris . Edwards & Edwards of New York City , (

 800 ) 223-6108 or ( 212 ) 944-0290 , is a ticket agency for performances in Lon

don , Stratford-upon-Avon , Dublin , Paris , Berlin , Copenhagen and elsewhere i

n Scandinavia . It also handles tickets for the Edinburgh Festival ( Aug. 14 to 

Sept. 3 ) and the Edinburgh Military Tattoo ( Aug. 7 to 27 ) . National tourism 

offices : Most European tourism offices , many of which are located in New York 

, can provide guidance on how to get tickets at major theaters in their respecti

ve countries . Hotel concierges : If you are staying in a hotel with a staff con

cierge , phone , fax or write ahead and ask the concierge to obtain tickets for 

the productions you want to see . You may have to pay a premium price , so be su

re to specify a maximum amount you are willing to pay . And don't forget to incl

ude a good tip . Opera publications : In his guide , opera buff Couch lists a ha

lf-dozen U.S. and European magazines that print European opera schedules for the

 month ahead . He suggests getting a copy of one of them . Even in a foreign lan

guage , the listings are reasonably understandable . In the United States , he r

ecommends Opera News , published by the Metropolitan Opera Guild . An introducto

ry subscription ( 17 issues ) is $ 21.95 . For information : ( 212 ) 769-7000 . 

In Europe , the magazines can be found on newsstands . In England , look for Ope

ra or Opera Now ; in France , Opera International ; in Germany , Das Opernglas ;

 and in Switzerland , Opernwelt . Couch 's book , `` The Opera Lover 's Guide to

 Europe '' is full of useful information about getting opera tickets . The 284-p

age first edition , published in 1991 , is available for $ 15.95 from Limelight 

Editions of New York . An updated version will be published in the fall . To ord

er : ( 212 ) 532-5525 .

 Join the caravan and explore 40 cultures without leaving Toronto at the 26th an

nual Festival Caravan , June 17-25 . Go from Belgrade to Kiev , Taipei to Tokyo 

all in one day , sampling ethnic fare ( curry and Wiener schnitzel ) , shopping 

( weavings and painted eggs ) and entertainment ( steel bands , limbo contests a

nd fashion shows ) . Walk or take public transit to 40 international pavilions a

ll over the city . A Caravan passport , available at any Bank of Montreal branch

 or at some Bell Phonecentres , includes a map of the pavilions but not transpor

tation ; cost is about $ 5 U.S. per person per day , about $ 10 for a nine-day p

ass ( kids 12 and under are admitted free with an adult ) . Information : ( 416 

) 977-0466 . -0- TRAVEL TRIVIA LIST THREE BODIES OF SALT WATER WHOSE NAMES ARE C

OLORS . TRIVIA ANSWER : THE RED SEA , THE BLACK SEA AND THE YELLOW SEA . -0- Beh

avior in Singapore If you didn't get the message yet , the Department of State i

s reminding travelers about Singapore 's `` strict laws and penalties for a vari

ety of offenses that might be considered minor in the United States . '' A new c

onsular information sheet lists among these jaywalking , littering , spitting , 

even the importation and sale of chewing gum all of which can exact high fines .

 Caning , imposed for vandalism , may also be used for immigration violations an

d more serious offenses . For the new sheet , contact the State Department 's Ci

tizens Emergency Center ( 202-647-5225 ) , computer bulletin board ( 202-647-922

5 ) or automated fax service ( 202-647-3000 ) . -0- FREE FOR THE ASKING Europe a

n annual affair ? So 's the European Planning & Rail Guide , Budget Europe Trave

l Service 's '94 guide to planning your foray concentrating on rail travel , cou

ntry by country , from Scandinavia to Spain , with information on rail passes an

d scenic train rides . There are also sample itineraries for 20 countries , walk

s , accommodations , travel tips on packing and safety and more . Send $ 1 or th

ree 29-cent stamps to BETS 's '94 Planning Guide , 2557 Meade Ct . , Ann Arbor ,

 Mich. 48105-1304 .

 The glory that is Rome , Barcelona and Seville is captured on three new volumes

 in the Museum City Video series released by V.I.E.W. . Video . The first three 

volumes in the series , which looks at great cities through the eyes of their ar

tists , architects and poets , focused on Florence , Venice and London . The Lon

don video was a finalist in the Special Interest Video Association Awards . Upco

ming releases include volumes on Vatican City , Jerusalem and Moscow . The video

s list for $ 19.98 each . Running time for the Rome cassette is 45 minutes . The

 other two run 40 minutes each . To order , call 1-800-843-9843 . `` Rome : The 

Eternal City '' is alive with views of its rooftop gardens , pink and ochre stuc

co glistening in the sun , and everlasting monuments and locations such as St. P

eter 's Basilica , the Coliseum , Trevi Fountain , Spanish Steps , Baths of Cara

calla , Sistine Chapel , Via Veneto , and Piazza Navona . There are people in Ro

me , too-people who sip espresso at sidewalk coffee bars , people who dine in ou

tdoor cafes scattered throughout the city , across the Seven Hills and along the

 banks of the Tiber River . The artwork in Rome is bountiful : jeweled mosaics ,

 glowing frescos , tapestries , vaulted ceilings and palatial rooms where master

works by Bernini , Michaelangelo and Raphael live on . `` Barcelona : Archive of

 Courtesy '' looks at a city that has been the vanguard for Spanish art and cult

ure for 2,000 years . Barcelona 's wonders range from the soaring spires of Anto

nio Gaudi 's Sagrada Familia to the winding streets of the Gothic Quarter and th

e modern works of Pablo Picasso , Joan Miro and Salvador Dali . The people in th

e region of Catalonia , between the waters of the Mediterranean and the slopes o

f the Pyrsenees , remain bound to their glorious past even in the art of futuris

tic Olympic City in Montjuic Park . `` Seville : Heart of Andalusia '' explores 

the city 's cathedral , the world 's largest Gothic building ; the Roman ruins o

f Italica ; the Moorish palace of Alcazar ; Santa Cruz and La Giralda , one-time

 center for the city 's Jews , who like the Romans , Visigoths , Muslims and Chr

istians , left their imprint on Seville .

 `` I don't know that I ever had a conversation with my husband about what pedia

trician we would use , '' said the mother of a teen-age daughter . `` And if you

 have a husband like mine and most of my friends , they don't ever want to go to

 the doctor , they don't ever want to confess that they don't feel good , and it

 is you who are probing and pushing and calling and making the appointments . ''

 Everybody around her smiled and nodded in recognition of the familiar scenario 

. For centuries , women have been the unpaid `` health-care providers , '' dragg

ing their spouses , children and aging relatives to the fountain of medical serv

ices and then tending them at the bedside at home . As a result , the woman conc

luded , `` Women have a greater stake in the health-care-reform debate than men.

 .. . We 're the ones in the middle juggling all the health-care decisions , our

 jobs , our child-rearing . '' This could start sounding like another episode in

 the Big Whine from the middle-aged `` sandwich generation '' if the speaker wer

en't First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and the subject weren't the most far-reac

hing domestic legislation in almost 30 years . But as Congress slugs out the det

ails of various proposals , something crucial is missing in the debate and it ha

s to do with women . Long stereotyped as nurturing handmaidens , women play a ce

ntral role in medicine . They are the biggest users of health care and go to the

 doctor more often than men . They are also the major `` providers '' as nurses 

2.2 million strong and unpaid family care givers . Yet , for starters , women ar

e sparsely represented on the congressional committees designing legislation and

 none of the powerful committee chairmen has a female face . The debate itself h

as been narrowly focused . Following the stereotype that guys do numbers , most 

of the political discussion has been about costs and strategies to pay for exten

ding the current system to the 38 million people who have no insurance , with Hi

gh-Noon shootouts over `` employer mandates '' and `` premium caps . '' There 's

 been very little talk about the quality and types of services that are needed a

nd not needed in an era of chronic illness and an aging population . `` It is a 

male model versus a female model , '' said Virginia Trotter Betts , president of

 the American Nurses Association . As she explained last week at a conference on

 care giving by the International Women 's Media Foundation , the male model is 

the status quo with its emphasis on high-tech remedies of acute medical problems

 ; the female model shifts the focus from cures to care not just to preventive a

nd primary care for healthy people but also supportive care for people with chro

nic conditions . If the debate paid more attention to the female model , noted B

etts , `` there would be a dramatic change in winners and losers . '' The view t

hat chronic illness is getting short shrift in the debate is supported by a rece

nt report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation . As the foundation 's preside

nt , Steven A . Schroeder , put it : `` Even after a year of intense debate abou

t health-care reform , the disparity between the needs of people with chronic he

alth conditions and the way the medical care system is currently organized is no

t being addressed in the debate . '' Perhaps the way for Congress to get the mes

sage about chronic illness is to pay more attention to a largely invisible volun

teer army of an estimated 18 million family care givers in this country . Their 

responsibilities go beyond the normal raising of a family . Their patients have 

such chronic diseases as multiple sclerosis , Alzheimer 's , cerebral palsy . Th

ey work as unpaid home health aides on average four hours a day , seven days a w

eek . These calculations come from the National Family Caregivers Association , 

a non-profit organization in Kensington , Md. , for people who care for a parent

 , child , sibling or spouse with a disabling illness . `` We 're the people who

 push the wheelchair , '' said the association 's president , Suzanne Mintz , wh

ose husband has MS . `` We 're so invisible . '' If these volunteer health worke

rs virtually all women were paid $ 7.25 an hour , their total annual bill would 

come to an estimated $ 190 billion a year . If their patients had to be cared fo

r in institutions and other community facilities , it would cost the nation 's t

axpayers even more . These care givers aren't looking for pay ; they are looking

 for benefits that would reimburse home health care and provide support and resp

ite care for care givers . But whenever long-term care benefits come up in the d

ebate , the Mayday Dollar Button is pushed and voters are cautioned it may be to

o expensive . So here 's another way in the health-care debate to look at the fi

nancing issue . The country actually has a health-care credit of $ 190 billion a

 year thanks largely to American women . If these volunteer Florence Nightingale

s should stage a work stoppage for a week , Congress would soon find out the rea

l dimensions of the health-care cost crisis .

 `` Everybody seems to like my name , '' said Jack Noseworthy . `` I never thoug

ht about changing it . Not for a second . '' Joe Davola , senior vice president 

of MTV Productions/MTV Development , can relate to that . `` Seinfeld '' writer 

Larry David was so taken by the name that `` Crazy Joe Davola '' became part of 

the NBC sitcom . Soon Noseworthy and Davola may have one more thing in common a 

cult following . That will depend on the reception to `` Dead at 21 , '' the mus

ic television network 's first foray into the action-adventure genre . The serie

s gets a sneak preview Thursday night and starting June 15 will run Wednesday ni

ghts . `` Dead at 21 '' features Ed and Maria , both 20 , who are running for th

eir lives . It seems that as an infant , Ed ( played by Noseworthy ) had a micro

circuit planted in his brain to increase his brain power . As a side effect , he

 and other cybernauts have wild dreams and , by the time they are 21 , will self

-destruct . As might be expected , the show has an energetic music-video quality

 . It leans heavily toward the rock 'n' roll set , with quick edits , harsh angl

es , hand-held camera work , on-location shooting and a pulsating soundtrack . O

h , yes , and on the back of the motorcycle Ed has Lisa Dean Ryan as Doogie Hows

er never knew her . `` Every now and then I get to kiss a girl , '' Noseworthy s

aid proudly , referring to the former `` Class of '96 '' star . He also got to r