The Game Plan - Kids and Sports Safety

Get "the game plan" for keeping your kids safe at play this school year with the safety review and overview in this easy to read article.

The fall and winter seasons mean football, hockey, volleyball and gymnastics.
Then, come spring it's basketball, baseball, softball and tennis.
Kids love sports, and there's really no better way to let them burn off all their youthful energy. As a parent, however, you're concerned about injuries - the pulled or strained muscles, broken and cracked bones, torn tendons and ligaments, and any of dozens of other injuries.
But children are often more resilient than their protective parents realize, and can snap back from an injury much faster than adults.
Just the same, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of peace of mind.

Training first Training also includes pre-training: getting ready for the more structured and formal training kids will undergo with their team.
You and your child can work together to compose a pre-training regimen, combining calisthenics with a good cardiovascular workout to prep their bodies for the more specialized training to come later. Probably the most important aspect of training and pre-training alike is consistency. The body at any age thrives on structure and regularity.
Sticking to the regimen you and your child set is crucial to building efficiency and raising muscle and respiratory stamina.
Diet and hydration It's said so often it's practically a cliché, but proper diet and exercise are essential for children to develop and thrive. This is especially true for children speeding up their metabolisms with intensive exercise.

Young athletes in training need lot of carbohydrates and protein to keep their energy up and their muscles stocked with the necessary building blocks.

Keep children well hydrated during training and play, especially during the warmer months of the year.

In general, the body needs as much water as it releases in sweat.

For most purposes, one cup every fifteen to twenty minutes of training is sufficient.
Remember too that over-hydrating can cause cramps and nausea, so use your best judgment. Giving the child sports drinks is fine so long as they are sugar-free and contain plenty of electrolytes.
In case of emergency The team your child joins should have a thorough emergency plan and first aid preparation and materials with them at all practices.

All padding and equipment should be reasonably new and in good condition.
It's also important to make sure the pads and other equipment are the right size. The field or court the team competes on should be level and in good repair, with no holes, jutting cracks, or fissures that could present a tripping hazard.