How to Prevent and Reduce Child Sport Injuries

With the weather changing, more young athletes are becoming involved in summer sports. Along with that comes injuries. This article takes a look at preventing and reducing those injuries.

Use the right equipment; Helmets too loose and shin guards that don't fit can cause the risk of a major injury. All equipment should be inspected for safety before the start of play or practice. Protective gear is just that. A loose ball glove can be just as bad. Little kids can have broken bones in their hands very easily.

Strengthen Muscles; Use the off season to strengthen the muscles that will be in use during the summer. Strength can help reduce muscle tares and sprains. There is a lot of good things to be said about muscle strength.

Increase Flexibility; It helps with body balance and muscle coordination. Both are very important with skill execution. Flexibility reduces the chances of muscle pulls.

Use the Proper Skill Technique; Little kids need to be reminded time and again the proper way to execute skill wise. In most cases it takes many repetitions to master any skill. Awkward skill execution can cause unwanted injuries.

Take Breaks when it is hot; Have plenty of water and ice on hand to reduce dehydration. Hydrating an athlete before competition, the day before a game, is an excellent idea.

Play Safe; Bean ball competition is for immature people. So is extra hard plays to take out an athlete. Players can still play hard and safely. Good sportsmanship should be the motto for all athletes.

Stop the activity when there is pain. Any athlete that develops pain should be removed from practice or the game. This is especially true with any type of head injury. Always play it safe and take no chances. All head injuries should be looked at immediately by a professional.

First Aid Kits and Ice; Always have these two items available for practices and games. Be trained in how to use them both when you have to.

Every child wants to to do their best. Help them do so by preventing and reducing injuries.

Comments (1)

paul said:

	... Nice article...When I was a kid I hurt myself all the time when playing sports.
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May 23, 2009
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