Sports Safety for Big Kids At Play

As children get older, they’ll have more opportunities to play team sports. Because all children develop at different rates, both physically and psychologically, kids can get injured and hurt. Sports injury can occur as a result of falls, collisions, being struck by an object or overexertion.

Children are more susceptible to these injuries than adults; in fact, children ages 5 to 14 account for nearly 40 percent of all sports-related injuries. Taking sports safety precautions can help keep your child in the game.

Top Tips

Before the game:

Always wear appropriate protective gear for the activity - for practice as well as games - and make sure it's the right size and properly adjusted.

Check athletic grounds for hazards like rocks, holes and water. Also consider current and potential weather conditions such as lightning.

Make sure your child has a screening physical before playing.

During the game:

Actively supervise children at play.

Make sure responsible adults know and enforce the safety rules of the sport, are present to provide supervision and are trained in first aid and CPR.

Safety Tools

There are many tools that parents can use to help to keep children safe from injuries. Many of them are affordable and can be found at many stores.

What you'll need:

Sport-specific safety gear

Sports Safety for Big Kids At Play

Top Tips

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