Guidelines for Successful
Participation in Kid's Sports
The increasingly competitive climate in children’s sports
here in Michigan and elsewhere is causing concern among
many educators, medical personnel and parents. As a
parent of four children, ages 10-15, I have
concerns. Don't get me wrong, I love sports as
much as anyone (maybe more) - but sports are becoming increasingly
more competitive. Is the fun being taken out of
sports for your child?
Osgood Schlatter is a cause of knee pain in children
(primarily during high growth periods). So far,
three of my four children have suffered from
Osgood. All three have experienced great relief
from taking a combination of Vitamin
E and Selenium on a
daily basis.
Here are a few guidelines to follow when evaluating your child’s athletic
endeavors.
There has been an increase in the number of children dying during, or soon after, sports games or practices. Most often the cause of death is a heart
problem or severe dehydration. Parents can protect their
child by ensuring the child's coach understands the
effects of dehydration, making sure that your child regularly
gets physical exams, playing an active role in making
sure your son or daughter is hydrated and monitoring for injuries.
ANY sports program that your child participates in should require a “physical” and a
medical release form signed by a physician.
Before visiting a doctor, the office should be notified
that the child will be participating in sports.
A good physician will look for and identify pre-existing conditions such as asthma, pulmonary disorders, and any heart conditions.
If your sports program doesn’t require a physical,
your child should still have a yearly physical. Get the doctor’s approval before letting your child begin a sports
program.
If your child will be practicing in warm weather, be
diligent about hydration. It is important for him/her to be well hydrated before he arrives at the practice or game and it is important for him to continue to
drink water throughout the practice/game. Children
should be taught very young to drink water when playing
sports.
The rule of thumb for drinking before, during, and after exercise, is to stop for
fluid breaks every 15-20 minutes.
Coaches should be aware of this rule! Water is a great option for hydrating your kids, but if they are staying active for more than an hour at a time, sports drinks are a better choice because of the calories (energy) they provide, and the electrolytes they help replace. Water has zero calories which
calculates to zero energy.
Be sure to stay away from carbonated drinks
and pure fruit juices.
Injuries are increasing at an alarming rate. I constantly
hear about girls and boys that are "out for the
season because of knee injuries" If you do not attend
all practices/games, you need to ask for specific details about how the practice
went, and give your child a good visual once-over to make sure he’s not limping or
excessively sore.
An injury that occurs at an early age and goes untreated will
most likely plague your child for many years. Make sure the coach is
aware of injuries and
do not allow your child to play while injured.
Be involved in your children’s sports programs. Go to the practices, go to the games, talk to your kids, their coaches, and their doctor
about their sports activities. Make it a goal to focus on children getting good exercise, having a great
time and increasing their athletic skills.
A final note: Don't get too involved and don't
relive your athletic dreams through your child. Twenty million kids register each year for youth hockey, football,
basketball, soccer, and other competitive sports. The National Alliance for Sports reports that 70 percent of these kids quit playing these league sports by age 13 -- and never play them again.
Many kids lose their passion for sports at an early age because they feel they
can't live up to their parents' and/or coaches'
expectations.
Don't allow your child to be a statistic because of your
competitiveness - make sure you emphasize playing sports
for fun.
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