Sports
Get Into the Game, Win with Safety:
The popularity of sports for children has skyrocketed. In turn, sports- and recreation-related injuries are quickly growing. For more information on keeping kids safe while playing sports, check out ourGET INTO THE GAME Fact Sheet and Check List.
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Kids and Sports Injury:
The National SAFE KIDS Campaign and the National Athletic Trainers' Association help your young athletes play it safe!
Whether it's pre-season, seconds before the winning goal or the victory ride home, follow these simple injury prevention measures to keep your kids healthy, fit and safe!
Pre-Game Strategies:
Sports are a healthy and exciting part of a child's life. But before running onto the field, SAFE KIDS and the National Athletic Trainers' Association reminds parents and young athletes to make a few pre-game stops.
First Stop: Doctor's Office
All kids should receive a general health exam and an orthopedic exam, prior to participating in organized sports activities. The general exam should include checks on height, weight, blood pressure, pulse, respiration, eyes, ears, nose, chest and abdomen. The orthopedic exam should focus on joint flexibility, joint range of motion and a re-examination of past bone, muscle and joint injuries.
Second Stop: Conditioning Room
According to the National Athletic Trainers' Association, athletes should work with certified athletic trainers and coaches year-round to ensure they maintain their condition with appropriate exercises and nutrition. Six-weeks prior to daily practice, young athletes should begin a progressive conditioning program that focuses on muscular strength and endurance, cardiovascular fitness and flexibility.
Third Stop: The Kitchen Table
Parents and kids need to incorporate healthy food into their daily diets including grains, fruits and vegetables, dairy and meat/poultry/fish. Athletes' diets should be high in complex carbohydrates while also including essential proteins and fats. However, kids should not be encouraged to use supplements. Thus, parents need to ensure their child is consuming a balance from each of the five food groups, as well as plenty of fluids.
Equipment Safety Checks:
A team jersey might add color to a game, but the right safety equipment truly adds a winning flair.
All athletes must wear safety-approved protective equipment in all practices and games. SAFE KIDS and the National Athletic Trainers' Association suggest that this safety equipment be checked before and after each use to ensure that it is in proper working condition, and replaced or repaired immediately if any problems are noted.
Kids grow quickly and at different rates. Thus, it is crucial that parents and coaches monitor their equipment regularly. Protective gear is sport-specific and includes mouth guards, shin pads, helmets, elbow pads, knee pads, safety goggles, etc.
Coaches and parents should also monitor the athletic grounds and sporting equipment. Debris, rocks, water, and other hazards should be removed from the field, court or rink. If playing outdoors, adults must also consider current and potential weather conditions (i.e. lightning) as part of their inspection. In addition, balls, bats, goal posts, baskets and other sporting equipment should meet standards for play.
Proper Hydration for Young Athletes:
Filling the team's water bottles is just as important as scoring the winning goal!
According to the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA), young athletes should consistently drink as much fluid as they release in sweat, generally 1 to 1.5 liters per hour of intense sports activity (but remember, sweat rate varies from one athlete to another). These fluids shouldbe consumed prior to, during and following each game and practice. A hydration plan should encourage drinking throughout the exercise session (about a cup or so every 15-20 minutes) so children will be less likely to suffer from stomach cramps associated with drinking a large amount of fluid at one time.
"The most important thing is to give kids the drink they like to drink best, either water or a sports drink," said Dr. Douglas J. Casa, ATC, CSCS, Director of Athletic Training Education, Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut. "Because if they like it, they'll drink more of it and be safer throughout the practice or game. A sports drink may provide better results than water if the activity lasts longer than 45-50 minutes or is intense, however."
The NATA and SAFE KIDS recommend that fluid breaks be offered at least every 30 to 45 minutes (or more often in warmer conditions) during sports activities. Also, athletes should be entitled to unrestricted amounts of fluid to help prevent dehydration and other forms of heat-related illness throughout the activity.
Symptoms of dehydration include thirstiness, weakness, headaches, dark-colored urine or a slight decrease in body weight. If a child is dehydrated, parents should immediately give him/her fluids (sports drink/water), and a healthy snack, such as a granola bar or oranges. In addition, young athletes should avoid caffeine and carbonation.
Preparing for Sports Emergencies:
Parents want to do whatever they can to keep their kids from getting hurt while playing sports. That's why it is so important for coaches and parents to share important information about themselves and their young athletes to provide the best response in an emergency.
If your children play organized sports, you should know who is responsible for their care in an emergency. Parents need to know this person's qualifications to handle all injuries and provide proper instruction and rehabilitation, as well as whether he or she is available for both practices and games.
The National Athletic Trainers' Association and SAFE KIDS suggest that kids play under the supervision of a certified athletic trainer and that every field, court or rink have a first aid kit. In addition, coaches should be certified in first aid and CPR and, where possible, possess a state- or nationally approved certificate to coach specific sports.
In addition, coaches need to know the names of their athletes' parents and how to reach them in an emergency. Throughout the season, coaches should always have information about each child that includes the athlete's name, parents' names, address and home, work and cellular phone numbers, as well as any medical condition or allergies affecting the athlete.
The Facts about Kids' Sports Injuries:
Playing sports benefits kids' physical and mental well-being. While children improve their fitness and coordination, they also learn self-discipline and teamwork that builds motivation and self-esteem. But no child benefits from being hurt on the court or field.
Although death among children during sports activities is rare, nearly 1 million children under age 14 are treated in hospital emergency rooms annually for sports-related injuries. Children are more susceptible to these injuries because they are still growing and are in the process of gaining motor and cognitive skills. Approximately 1 in 4 sports injuries is considered serious. Sports injuries can occur as a result of falls, collisions, being struck by an object or overexertion.
Ironically, the majority of organized sports-related injuries occur during practice rather than during games. This reflects the need for education about taking safety precautions whenever playing a sport ? whether during a game or a practice. Other factors contributing to sports injuries include: a lack of awareness for potential injury, inappropriate or unavailable equipment due to insufficient funds, and the lack of proper conditioning.
To prevent these injuries from occurring, coaches and parents should ensure that children:
- Always wear appropriate safety gear and equipment that fits properly;
- Are physically and psychologically conditioned, properly trained in the sport and matched against kids with similar skill level, weight, and physical and psychological maturity;
- Are supervised by an adult at all times with strict enforcement of all safety rules;
- Drink an adequate amount of liquids prior to, during and following athletic activities; and,
- Have a safe playing environment (i.e., no rocks or holes on the field, etc.).
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