Whatever sport your child may be involved in, it is important to prepare properly to avoid injury. This preparation includes proper nutrition, hydration, conditioning and equipment.
Hydration - Parents and coaches need to be sure children drink plenty of fluids before and during any exercise. A good starting point is about 4 to 6 ounces of fluid every 15 minutes for a 90 pound child. Athletes should weigh the same before and after exercise. Cold water is fine for re-hydration, but flavored sports drinks may stimulate your child to drink more. Fruit juices and soda are not good choices, as they contain too much sugar.
Conditioning - warming up exercises and cooling down exercises are important to prepare the body for more strenuous exercise and to prevent injury.
Equipment - Proper fitting equipment according to the sport played should always be worn. Special attention should be paid to appropriate head gear to reduce the risk of serious head injury.
