Formal sports and outdoor activities are an integral and important part of a child’s development. They teach discipline, teamwork and build strong character. That’s why it’s even more important for parents and teachers to make sure children are protected from unnecessary injury and ensure that today’s young athletes are not tomorrow’s patients.

Decide if a child is ready for team sports: Sports physiotherapists recommend team sports only for children six years of age and older. Most children younger than six don’t understand the concept and rules of team play, and may not have the emotional development and eagerness to play. Secondly, there are things a 14-year-old can do that an 8-year-old should not because of differences in physical development.

 Before the Game

• Pick wisely: Enroll children in formal sports through schools, community clubs and recreation leagues where there may be adults who are trained in the prevention, recognition and immediate care of athletic injuries.
• Take it easy: Ease into any new sport such as hurling, football, or basketball to give the body time to strengthen and adapt. Too much high impact sport increases the load on the joints. It’s very important to rest afterwards to give the body time to recover.
• Be a role model: Nothing screams “Hypocrite!” and will make a child ignore protective steps more than a parent/ teacher who lectures about safety and then doesn’t follow their own advice. It’s simple: when kids see you practicing proper joint protection, they’re more likely to follow suit.
• Look to the pros: Point out to kids how sports idols are smart about the equipment they use and how they play or exercise.

During the Game

• Check the gear: Equipment should be age appropriate and fit correctly. Worn items should be replaced. For example, a runner’s trainers should be replaced every 250 to 500 miles.
• Teach a child not to play through pain: Pain is the body’s signal to stop and rest. Playing through pain could cause and injury to become worse and recovery longer.
• First Aid: Make sure first aid is available at all games and practices.
• Lots of fun: Part of youth sports is learning to be a good sportsman. This includes avoiding the concept of ‘winning at all costs’. Philosophies such as these can increase a chance of injury as children ignore injury warnings to gain.

After the Game

•  Cool down: Cooling down exercises after play will loosen the body’s muscles that have tightened during exercise.
• Re-Hydration: Make sure children drink lots of water during and after sport to replace lost fluid.
• Let injuries heal completely: Minimize long-term damage by allowing the injured area to heal completely before participating in the sport again.
• Don’t rush: It’s important to ease back into a routine if you or a child have been inactive for a long period of time.
• Put the child in charge: There are so many colours and styles of protective gear to choose from that kids can pick the look they want. Let them! They’re more likely to use items that they like.
• Be a nag: Kids are famous for having short attention spans. Be prepared to repeat the safety rules over and over and over and over…

 So they have an injury...

 How do you ensure a child recovers fully: Everything was done right. Stretching, correct gear, cooling down – and yet, an injury still occurred. What now? Follow these guidelines for effective and speedy recovery.

•  Ensure injuries are recognised early and treated properly: Early detection can mean a much speedier recovery. Continuing to put pressure on an injured area can worsen the injury as well as the long term effects. If an injury persists for more than 10 days it would be advisable to consult a physiotherapist or your local GP.
• Participate in a fully functional rehabilitation programme: After immediate care has been given to the injury (see RICE in adult section), seek professional advice to plan a rehabilitation exercise programme.
• Stay fit while injured: Creative techniques can be used to safely work around an injury. If a child’s injury is due to running, why not try swimming.
• Keep a positive, upbeat attitude: The injury will recover eventually and the child will return to their favourite activity. Encourage them to use this time to explore other pastimes that they can enjoy.
• Don’t Panic: Protecting a child’s joints from sports injuries should not mean keeping him or her out of sports and stuck in the house or classroom. The long-term benefits of sports for children are clear. Exercise is crucial for maintaining proper weight, improving strength and coordination, and building lifelong good health habits early. Emotionally, team sports can help children build social skills and can provide a general sense of well-being.