Injuries in School Sports Are Preventable

Having learned the hard way about sports injuries; that is, by seeing my own children suffer from them, I would like to see others being spared needless incidents.

Education is vital: Research the sport being played and learn what the risks will be; then research again and learn what the protections include.
1. Helmets: type and proper fit
2. Body protectors: there are pads available for everything from hindcatchers in baseball/softball to pads for protecting the kidneys for football players.
3. Gym: check on the gym where the sport is played - does it have up to date equipment? One of my sons played in an old gym several years ago where there were no pads on the walls behind the basketball goals and when the boys ran full speed down the court, there was always the danger of being slammed into the wall. Bleachers are another hazard and a simple net to prevent the player from cracking his skull on one is an inexpensive but effective safety measure.
4. Practice policies: Is hydration an issue? Does the sport include extreme temperatures? How are they handled? Know what is going on during practice as well as during events.

People are important: Know and research the coaches and assistants
1. Qualifications: When your children were small, you would not leave them with a sitter without references; did you know that some of the coaches and assistants are volunteers and there are no qualification requirements?
2. Find out if the coaches/assistants know the basics: First aid training is essential for safety.
3. Watch them. You will soon know during practices whether the coaches are interested in the whole person of the young athlete or whether he/she is only interested in winning. If that is the case, be vocal; Things don't change unless someone presses for change.
4. Talk: other parents and caregivers are interested in the well-being of the athletes in school; find someone who has some experience in sports among them. My son coaches a track team and uses his former experience and sports training to ensure their safety: when one of the runners says "It feels tight." , he tells me that is his cue to stop the exercise. During the hot afternoons when they need to practice, he has arranged with a local fitness center to use their facility.

Knowledge is our most powerful weapon against sports injuries.