The school year is starting and so are fall sports! With those practices and games comes the risk of injuries. If your child is beginning a new sport, it is a good idea to review the best ways to prevent, or prepare for injuries. By putting some preparation into potential sporting accidents, you will be able to navigate your kids more smoothly through a difficult situation. Here we give a breakdown of safety tips for fall sports:
Football
The ultimate in fall contact sports, football is the leader of school sport injuries. Make sure your player is equipped with a helmet, a plethora of padding, well fitting cleats, and a mouthpiece. Additional options of safety gear include padded neck rolls, gloves, forearm pads, and rib guards.
Talk to the team’s coaching staff at the beginning of the season to make sure that they are aware of the warning signs and symptoms of concussions and discuss their safety plans for injuries.
Field Hockey
Any sport with a stick involves the possibility of contact with the body, that’s why field hockey has a lot of gear involved. Your player should be wearing cleats, shin guards, goggles, and mouthguards. For extra coverage, wear gloves to prevent broken fingers or a mask to protect against facial injuries. Goalies have even more gear which include body and arm padding and hand protectors.
Soccer
Soccer is another contact sport with the high potential for injuries. There are many recommended types of protective gear including cleats, shin guards and soccer socks. Goalies wear gloves and body padding. We also recommend wearing a mouthguard. Your player should be taught how to properly head a ball to avoid injury and fair play rules.
Cheerleading
One of the most dangerous sports, cheerleading involves high impact stunts which require precision and strength. In order to minimize the risk of injuries, make sure your cheerleader is practicing with an experienced coach in a facility with proper floor mats. Practice is really the best way to reduce injuries. Ensure your cheerleader is physically prepared for stunts, warmed up the day of, and well practiced with the team. Advise your cheerleader to never try new stunts without supervision and avoid being pressured into a stunt where they aren’t comfortable.
Additional tips for sports safety include:
- Have your player get a pre-sport physical, even if not required by the team, to make sure they are cleared for play
- Teach your player about the importance of playing fair and following the direction of referees or coaches
- Make sure the coaching staff has your child’s up to date medical and emergency contact info
- Ensure a first aid kit is at every game
- Make sure your player removes jewelry before play
- Bring plenty of water for players
In case of injuries, we recommend downloading our Contact Card to your phone.
Dr.STITCH is Long Island Plastic Surgical Group’s on call service for immediate and urgent treatment of lacerations, burns, complex wounds, facial trauma, and hand injuries. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year