Sport safety for active kids
Disclaimer: This fact sheet is for education purposes only.
Please consult with your doctor or other health professional to
make sure this information is right for your child.
Children play sport for many reasons - to have fun, learn new skills, and make friends.
All sports should provide safe and enjoyable experiences for children. This will ensure that the children are less likely to be injured and are more likely to continue being active throughout their lives. Important things to consider in keeping active kids safe include:
- Protective equipment.
- Warm up and cool down.
- Safety and maintenance of playing fields and facilities.
- Even competition.
- Good coaching/teaching techniques and practices.
- Modified sports.
- Care during hot and cold conditions.
Protective equipment
Protective equipment should be worn at training and during the game. It should fit your child correctly. You may need to check the protective equipment regularly to make sure it still fits and it is in good condition.
- Mouthguards are needed in any sport where there is a risk of a blow to the head or face from equipment or an opponent. Mouthguards must be correctly fitted and designed by a dentist to fit your child.
- Wrist, elbow and knee guards are used in rollerskating, rollerblading and skateboarding to reduce the impact of falls onto hard surfaces.
- Shin pads are used in softball, hockey and cricket to prevent shin injuries when there is a fast moving object such as a ball or bat.
- Shoulder pads and head gear are recommended in tackling sports such as rugby league and union.
- Padded body protectors can protect the chest area in softball or baseball, and boys will need a "box" to protect the genital area in cricket, baseball and hockey.
- Protective glasses or eyewear are useful for sports with a fast ball, stick or close play such as squash, lacrosse and tennis.
- Helmets are necessary in sports where high-speed collisions are likely such as cycling and motorcycling. Specific helmets for gridiron and baseball can also reduce the chance of head injuries. Helmets should also be worn when batting in cricket, softball or baseball.
- Protective gloves can help to reduce hand and finger injuries in sports like cricket, baseball and softball.
- Appropriate shoes for the activity can also help to prevent injuries. They should be properly fitted and be suitable for the activity and playing surface.
Warm up and cool down
A warm up is an important part of any activity or sport. It will prepare your child's body for the activity by increasing body temperature, heart rate and breathing rate. It can also help to reduce the risk of injury to muscles. The warm up should take 5-10 minutes and should consist of:
- a short jog or other continuous movement for 2-3 minutes;
- stretching activities to prepare the muscles to be used; and
- fun games and activities that are related to the activity ahead.
A cool down is also needed at the end of the activity to remove waste products from muscles so that the muscles don't become sore and stiff. Cool downs are often left out from sport and activity and it can help to prevent sporting injuries. It should consist of:
- a short, light jog or brisk walk for 2-3 minutes; and
- 5-10 minutes of stretching the muscles that were used.
Diagrams kindly donated by Smartplay.
Smartplay Project: Warm Up - Stretching brochure 2000. Sports Medicine Australia (SA).
Safety and maintenance of playing fields and facilities
Safe and well maintained facilities for sport and activity will help to reduce injuries to children and to make sure that they enjoy their experiences. Clubs and facility providers should make sure that:
- goal posts and other permanent fixtures are padded.
- temporary equipment such as soccer and netball goal posts are secured firmly to the ground.
- playing surfaces are even and do not have any holes, exposed sprinklers or hard patches.
- the playing area is free of rubbish.
Even competition
If children are playing competitive sport, parents should make sure that their child is playing with and against children of similar age, size, strength and skill. This will help to reduce the chance of injury by making sure that your child participates at a level that is right for them.
Good coaching/teaching techniques and practices
Coaches are very important in helping to teach children the basic skills and techniques needed for a sport or activity. Trained and accredited coaches will help to provide safe participation by:
- being aware of child growth and development and how children learn in different ways.
- remembering that children should be playing for fun and participation.
- not expecting too much of children.
- being aware of potential safety hazards in the sport or activity.
Modified sports
Modified sports make the game safer and easier for young children. Children are not "little" adults and they need different conditions and rules to enjoy a sporting activity. Sports can be modified by reducing the length of the playing area, shortening the length of the game, lowering goal posts and modifying the rules of the game. Examples of modified sports include Netta Netball, Tee Ball, Mod League, Walla Rugby and Gymfun.
Hot and cold conditions
Children are not able to control their body temperature as well as adults. You should make sure that:
- In hot or humid conditions your child wears lightweight and loose fitting clothing and a hat. They should also drink water before, during and after the activity to avoid dehydration.
- In very cold conditions children wear layers of clothing that can be removed as they warm up - and perhaps a hat or gloves.
- Children can also lose body heat from long periods in cold water or the rain. Watch for signs of hypothermia (loss of body heat) such as uncontrollable shivering, cramps and slurred speech.
- Children should always wear a SPF 30+ broad spectrum sunscreen and it should be re-applied at least every two hours. A hat with a wide brim or a cap with flaps to shade neck and ears will also protect your child from the sun, and so will any clothing that covers the skin.
For more information
- All sports should provide safe and enjoyable experiences for children.
- Make sure that your child uses any protective equipment that is needed and that is designed to fit your child.
- Modified sports are a great way of introducing your child to a sport in a safe and fun way.
- Provide plenty of water for before, during and after play.
© The Children's Hospital at Westmead & Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick - 1997-2008.
This document was published on Thursday, 27 February 2002.
| 
