Football, or gridiron, is one of the most popular sports in North America. However in the NCAA, from 2004 to 2009 there were more than 41,000 injuries, 11 deaths, and three catastrophic spinal cord injuries in college football.
Just like in any sport, it’s important proper procedures and precautions are followed. Here are five ways to prevent injuries while playing football.
Wear Protective Equipment
It’s vital to wear all the prescribed gear to be safe and avoid getting injured. Football players have a long list of equipment they need to wear to be safe while playing, these include:
- helmet,
- mouth guard,
- shoulder pads,
- knee pads,
- tail pads,
- hip pads,
- thigh guards,
- athletic supporters,
- jersey, and
- shoes.
This gear protects players during tackles. Your coach may suggest more gear and it’s important your kid follows their instructions as they know what works best.
Warm-Up
Muscles that are cold and stiff can be more easily damaged because they’re more brittle. They can warm up with small exercises like jumping jacks, walking, or taking a quick run.
Warming up also includes stretching. Make sure they stretch areas such as hips, calves, thighs, and knees to prevent injuries while playing football.
Keep Fit
If they’ve been taking it easy for a while and then jump right into the intense football training, your child will probably get injured. Encourage your kid to stay fit and train a little during their off-season so they can easily adjust to the demanding drills of football season.
Before entering the season, it’s always a good idea to get a pre-season physical to catch anything out of the ordinary and make sure they’re ready to play.
Stay Hydrated
It’s easy to get dehydrated or overheated when playing any sport, but especially one requiring a helmet. So, it’s important you drink plenty of water.
When a player is dehydrated, their body is more susceptible to cramps, disorientation and overheating which can lead to more injuries.
Even if dehydration levels are mild, it will still affect their ability to play, so make sure your child drinks plenty of water.
Drinking water before exercising can help a lot too by preparing your muscles for the strenuous activity ahead. It can also prevent injuries while playing football.
Tackle Properly
Improper tackles are one of the most common reasons players get injured. Instruct your child to keep their head up when they tackle and to not lead with their helmet.
Instruct them to try not to hit the other player’s head as well as their own. When players heads collide, it can hurt their spinal cords and cause serious neck injuries that could result in death.
Tackles are dangerous to both players and it’s important they follow the rules in order to protect others. When everyone tackles properly it’s safer for everyone on the field.
If your child experience pain during a game, try and find a doctor specialized in sports injuries. Some practices, such as walkerspineandsport.com, offer regenerative medicine to help the body restore itself naturally and increase recovery times.
Protective equipment, warming up, keeping fit in the offseason, staying hydrated, and tackling properly are some of the ways to prevent injuries while playing football. It’s important also to know your limits and not push beyond them.
If your child experiences pain, it’s important to stop and seek the help of a medical professional.
About 33 percent of all injuries to children and teens come from playing sports. If you are a parent of an injured teen from playing sports, then here are some ideas to help them get back in the game.
