Is it me or has the news lately been filled with sport related injuries and death. I mean you can’t turn on the TV without hearing about a kid that succumbed to injuries he suffered from a game. Hoping these tips will help a parent in preventing sports injuries with their child.
No parent should ever have to bury their child. I can’t even imagine going through such tragedy. It’s scary and makes me want to put my girls in a bubble. However, that isn’t realistic.
5 Simple Ways to Prevent Kids’ Sports Injuries
- Get a sport physical. Our team requires the kids to get a full physical from the family physician. Although it could sometimes be a pain, it’s necessary to make sure there isn’t an underlying issue before embarking on strenuous physical activities.
- Make sure the kids warm up and stretch before and after each game. When my daughter started playing soccer, I thought it was weird that the coach would get the girls together and made sure they stretched after a game. I didn’t understand the importance, so I asked why he deem it necessary especially when they’ve been running around the field. His response, stretching will help reset their body to it’s natural position and posture.
- Wear the right gear. Having the right gear could be the difference between a great game and an emergency visit to the ER. With my daughter playing soccer, that means cleats, shin guards, socks, and a protective head gear. We’ve been testing out the ExoShield Head Guard and Bodyshield Leg Guard. I am hoping it helps in significantly reducing the force of impact in case she gets hit by a ball. She doesn’t have a mouth guard, but I am seriously considering getting one for her.
- Learn and use the proper techniques.To stay safe, it’s important to know the rules of the game. This includes learning the basic game techniques to avoid potential mishap on the field.
- Stay hydrated. Encourage your little one to drink before, during and the game. I know mine is always worried about having to go to the bathroom, but I would rather she leaves the game midway than having an issue later down the road.
Hope these tips are helpful in keeping your little ones protected, so you can confidently send her out onto the soccer field.