Lowering the Risk of High School Football Injuries

Football is a dangerous sport. Players endurepractices. Ask whether the coach is responsible
bruising contact, long practices in hot weather andfor conditioning or if the program has a trainer
all sorts of unusual stresses and strains on theirthat works with children.Dehydration is a critical
muscles, ligaments and tendons. It is not possibleissue among football players since practices
to prevent injuries in the game of football and fortypically occur outdoors during the hottest part of
this reason many parents are hesitant to allowthe summer. Ask the coach what measures are
their children to participate. But the risk of injurytaken to prevent dehydration. Know that fluid
can be minimized with cooperation betweenbreaks should be taken about every 45 minutes
parents, doctors and coaches.When your childand players should be allowed to drink all they
comes to you and asks to try out for football,want in order to keep properly hydrated. Also ask
your answer should always be contingent on thewhether the coach, trainers or other personnel
results of a full medical checkup. Be sure that theare certified in CPR.Wearing protective equipment
doctor knows that it is a sports physical so thatis a given, but you need to work with the coach
he or she can check for the appropriate thingsto ensure that it fits properly. Whether or not the
like joint flexibility and heart health. After yourprogram requires it, your child should wear a
child is cleared medically, then you can move onmouth guard. Mouth guards are instrumental in
to investigating the program and learning whatpreventing dental injuries and can protect against
safety measures are provided.One of the mostjaw and certain types of head injuries as well.Ask
important facets of avoiding injury in any sport iswhat medical staff will be on hand during practices
maintaining proper conditioning through exerciseand games should an injury occur. To prepare for
and good nutrition. Ask your child's potential coachthe worst-case scenario, consider giving the coach
how conditioning is handled. Year-round conditioningor trainer an emergency health care authorization
is ideal, but barring that, children should participateletter. This letter will allow your child to be
in appropriate conditioning programs for at leasttransported and treated at a hospital even if you
six weeks prior to the beginning of regularare not there to give permission.