National Youth Sports Safety Month

Spring and summer sports are starting up again. Accordingly, April marks National Sports safety month. Here’s a quick checklist that makes it easy to keep the kids safe and prevent injury so that they can get more play time on the field.

 

Ready

Sometimes, coaches are burdened by limited field/rink/court time. With only so much time, they can’t always get the team’s muscles warmed up. Encourage your kids to learn how to properly loosen up before their sport. Get there early and get some jumping jacks and stretches in beforehand. If you aren’t sure, look online for a little aerobic and stretching ideas to get them motivated.

 

Re-fit

Kids grow like weeds. Remember to keep checking their equipment for proper fit. (Don’t count on them to let you know.) When you’re buying, resist the temptation to buy something overly large for them to grow into. It could mean slippage, blisters, or unnecessary bruising. Talk to your professional to see how much room is right given their age and sport.

 

Rehydrate

Fluid loss is a major concern especially as the temperatures begin to soar. Start the hydration process well before games and practice. By being well saturated in advance, they will preform better, cramp less and thwart dehydration risks. Make sure their sports bottles are filled up before they head off to practice. If necessary, nag them to keep drinking.

 

Rest

Kids are on go-go-go schedules. School. Play. Sports. Homework. And, there’s the pull of TV/social media/etc.  While your kids are playing, be extra careful to help them get to bed at a reasonable hour. Bodies do a lot of healing and restoration during sleep and it’s imperative that your child catches enough zzzzzs.

 

Rehabilitate

If your player suffers any kind of injury, it’s time to slow down and assess the impact. Small bruises or cuts in non-essential areas are usually fine with simple first aid. However, any kind of foot, joint, hand, or muscle injury requires more attention. If it’s treatable at home, make sure that you give enough time for proper healing. Blisters, cuts, and soft-tissue injuries will probably get worse if pushed too hard too soon. And, as always, seek proper medical attention if your child shows any signs of needing additional support in getting back into the game.