Children Show Signs When Ready to Toilet Train - Health Tips

Organized Sports Teach Children Valuable Skills On and Off the Field

From swimming pools and gymnasiums to football fields and volleyball courts, participation in organized sports creates a positive learning environment for children. "Sporting activities help children improve their physical fitness, self-esteem, coordination and self-discipline," says John P. Sheehan, M.D.(link to boystownhospital- patient services - orthopaedics), a pediatric orthopaedic specialist at Boys Town Orthopaedics.

"Organized sports also teach kids social skills that they will use throughout their lives, such as how to be a team player," says Dr. Sheehan. "However, it is important to remember that all sports carry the potential for injury."

According to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, more than 3.5 million children under age 15 experience sports- and recreation-related injuries each year. Approximately 775,000 of these children are treated in hospital emergency rooms for these injuries.

"Fortunately, most injuries children suffer during organized sports are minor," says Dr. Sheehan. "Only 5% of children's sports injuries are more serious than a cut, abrasion, bruise, or pulled muscle."

According to Dr. Sheehan more than half of injuries that occur during organized sports can be avoided. By following a few simple guidelines provided by the Nemours Foundation, a non-profit organization devoted to children's health, parents can help prevent sports injuries to their children:

Use of proper equipment - Equipment should be carefully fitted so it is the correct size for the child. Safety gear that is appropriate to the specific sport should be worn (i.e., helmets with polycarbonate shields for baseball, softball, and hockey, protective eyewear for basketball and racquet sports).
Maintenance and appropriateness of playing surfaces - Playing fields should be smooth, without holes and ruts that cause falls. Basketball courts and running tracks should not be concrete.
Adequate adult supervision and commitment to safety - All sporting activities should be supervised by qualified adults. The team coach should have training in CPR and first aid. Children should be matched for sports according to their skill level, size and physical maturity.
Proper preparation of child athletes - Proper preparation helps to ensure your child has fun and reduces the chances of injury. Make sure your child has been properly prepared through warm-ups and training sessions and that he or she knows how to play the sport.

Parents can also protect their children against injury by insisting coaches are properly trained. "If a serious injury occurs, it is essential the coach is trained in first aid and CPR," says Dr. Sheehan.

Dr. Sheehan also suggests coaches obtain certification by either the National Youth Sports Coaches Association or the American Coaching Effectiveness Program to help to increase the safety level of sporting activities. Organizations such as these encourage safe practices, including:

Preventing overheating by providing plenty of rest breaks and water.
Avoiding pushing players so hard that they injure themselves.
Insisting that players wear protective equipment.
Discouraging unsafe tactics such as face blocking in football and sliding into bases in baseball and softball.

Before allowing your child to participate in any sport, Dr. Sheehan suggests visiting a physician for a physical examination that may identify potential problems that could cause injury.