Soccer, basketball, volleyball, hockey – we’ll bet your family calendar is packed with all the sports and activities the kids will be playing over the next few months. That calendar can get cut short though when injury occurs. To keep kids safely in the game this season, we’ve shared our top tips for injury prevention in the latest newsletter from TAC Sports.
Proper Equipment & Training
It should go without saying, kids need their own dedicated equipment, perfectly sized for them! When returning to sport the following year, replace skates and shoes for growing feet and don’t try to see if they can make it through the season with ill-fitting gear that can compromise proper form and function.
Coaches and supervising adults should also ensure that kids have a solid understanding of the game they’re about to play and what kind of interaction can be expected – is it a contact sport? Dodgeball can only be aimed below the waist? Full knowledge will prepare kids for their sport of choice and help prevent accidents.
Appropriate Playing Surfaces
Avoid slips-and-trips injuries with the right ground/flooring. Grass-based sports may require cleats to prevent sliding, rubber flooring provides great shock absorption for games where kids are prone to falling and of course all surfaces should be free of damage (i.e. spaces between floorboards).
Overuse and Re-Injury
For kids who’ll be committed to a sport for a full season, the risk of overuse injuries and repetitive injury becomes more prevalent. Parents can take the following measures to keep their child’s safety at the forefront.
Read the rest of our tips here!