injurie10 top tips for reducing children’s sports s

1 CHOOSE THE RIGHT SPORT for the right child. A child may be attracted to a sport because it is a family tradition or they have friends who play. Certain body types and personalities are more suited to particular sports.

The sport will quite often select the child, or guide their position in the team. For example, the bigger boys will be selected in the rugby forwards. The taller girls will be favoured for basketball. Fast runners and quick thinkers will be valued in teams that play hockey or football. Girls who choose ballet will most likely be slight. The right selection can reduce the risk of injury.

2 ARE THE TEAMS SELECTED BY SIZE, NOT AGE? With non-contact sports or minimal contact sports, such as baseball, size is not such an issue. If your child wants to play a contact sport, such as rugby or Australian Rules football, make sure they are in a team that is appropriate for their size and stage of development. This is particularly important for boys around adolescence.

3 REGULAR MEDICAL CHECK-UPS including growth and development, are important for all children. A sport-specific physical examination is important at the beginning of every season, particularly if there are any medical problems, such as asthma or a previous injury.

If your child does not want to play organised sport, or has medical reasons not to, then a suitable individual fitness program can be devised.

4 PRE-SEASON CONDITIONING. We know that children who play team ball sports and do not do pre-season training or coach-led training sessions are much more likely to get injuries. Training should include strength, flexibility, balance and sport-specific fitness and technical skills. 5 EXPERIENCED COACHING AND SKILLS INSTRUCTION emphasises technical skills and the importance of following safety rules, and discourages careless or dangerous play.

6 THE RIGHT SAFETY EQUIPMENT is essential, upgraded to fit as your child grows. You need to check that they have the gear in their kit before they leave home for training or on competition days.

The gear will vary depending on the sport, but if mouthguards, shin and ankle guards, helmets or other devices are recommended and available, they need to be worn routinely.

7 EYE PROTECTION. I am mentioning this separately because it is often overlooked. Sports such as baseball, paintball, squash and hockey may recommend the use of face shields for eye protection.

8 WELL- MAINTAINED PLAYING SURFACES without sharp debris or potholes will reduce the chances of accidents and injuries.

9 HEALTHY NUTRITION provides energy, supports tissue growth and repair, and regulates your child’s metabolism for peak sports performance. Drinking water before, during and after the game will help prevent fatigue and dehydration.

10 SEEK PROMPT PROFESSIONAL ATTENTION for any injuries and follow advice about time out for rehabilitation before returning to sport after an injury. AWW