With football and soccer seasons in full swing before the close of the month, late summer is the ideal time to prepare for hectic school schedules, daily practices, and balancing mental and physical health for kids – on and off the field.
To set your kids up for a summer and school season of fun and safe sports, here are some tips that can help:
- Ensure that equipment and protection are not only available, but used properly. Don’t let kids or coaches take shortcuts, even during practice.
- Look for team activities that have ground rules for play, injury prevention and injury protocol. If your child’s school doesn’t have these, there are plenty of club teams that do.
- Teach children how to prevent injuries themselves. Proper technique, stretching, training and exercises make a big difference in preventing mental mistakes and physical injuries.
- Stay hydrated and be aware of the heat. Many injuries occur in muscles and concussions happen when the body is not properly fueled.
- Encourage breaks during afternoon practices. Overuse of muscles, especially in the heat, can lead to a drastic increase in injuries.
- Support and empower children to speak up. If they believe they may be injured, make sure they feel comfortable telling an adult. While competition is healthy, pushing too hard can lead to long-term repercussions.
- Learn first aid, CPR, AED, injury prevention and any other skills that can save a child from harm on and off the field.