Sever's Disease

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=191444

Has anybody heard of this? It seems more like an over-use condition combined with growing than an actual disease that seems to effect 9-14 year olds. I noticed that from being the leading scorer on his team in the fall to not a goal this spring that he started running like he had a stick up the back side. He eventually told me that his heels (end of ) were hurting pretty bad. This has obviously slowed him down considerably....I asked his Texans 94 coach about it and he said he noticed it also and immediately told my son is it was Sever's. Has anybody else run into this with their youth select players and did the pads...R.I.C.E. or other methods work on correcting or at least help with it. We have the North Texas State Cup coming up in a couple of weeks and then Surf Cup in California....I want my son to be in the best shape possible for these important tourney's but I sure wouldn't want to risk hurting it more for a short term goal. It's hard to trust what you read on the net...
Concerned father and coach