With the start of the school year, it is also the start of many fall sports. Some kids may play sports at school, while others play recreational sports through a local sports league, and some play more serious sports like travel soccer or baseball. Fall is a good time to make sure you have all your ducks in a row and your kids are healthy enough to play sports, and are safe while they are playing them!
First things first-make sure your kids are healthy so that they can play sports safely. Most schools require a sports physical before you can try out for the team. Recreational leagues and travel leagues may not require a health form, but it is a good idea to take your child to a yearly physical so that if there are any health problems they can be dealt with. For example, if your child has asthma, it doesn’t mean they can’t play sports, it just means they need to be sure that their asthma is well maintained and they have regular checkups with their doctor.
It is important to warm up and stretch before games and practices to avoid unnecessary injury. Make sure you get your child to practice early so that they have adequate time to stretch before a game or injury. It is recommended that they have 10 minutes of light activity and then stretch each muscle group for 20-30 seconds to properly warm up. Hydration is also very important when playing sports, especially when it is hot outside. Send your child to practice and games with a water bottle and make sure they drink water before, during and after they play. The child’s coach should have mandatory water breaks during practice as well.
Proper sports equipment is also important to avoid injury. For example, shin guards and cleats are important for soccer and helmets, mouth guards and shoulder pads for football. Sunscreen is also important when you are playing sports outside. Even in the evening you should put sunscreen on your child. All coaches and parents should know the signs of concussions, as you don’t want to risk injury to your child’s brain. When in doubt-sit them out and make sure to get your child evaluated.
Sports are an important part of your child’s development-these tips can help your child have a safe and successful sports season.