The summer is coming to a close, which means it is back-to-school and fall sports seasons for a majority of children this autumn. However, before your child can participate in certain sports and the upcoming season they need an updated sports physical. 

Each year, your child’s school and/or recreational program legally needs a sports physical in order to enroll them in certain activities. Without the physical your child is not able to enroll and could have a shortened or delayed season. 

Parents should try and get their child an updated sports physical ASAP because these physicals help identify any immediate health risks they could have. Additionally, parents may want to ensure that their child is safe during the sports season by reinforcing basic safety skills while on the field: 

How do sports physicals help my child stay safe and protected during the season?

Sports physicals are required to enroll your child in upcoming sports during the school year, but many parents may not realize that sports physicals are also a way to protect your child during their activities. 

Many athletic personnel, like coaches and trainers, rely on the information in your child’s sport and camp physical to protect them from injury risks, allergies, asthma triggers, and similar physical ailments. The sports physical allows these staff members to protect and encourage your child to safely participate in sports. 

Your child’s school administration also uses the information in a sports physical to protect them from any physical ailments and prepare for unexpected injury risks. 

What can my child do to protect themselves during school sports season?

On top of sports physicals, there are other skills and techniques that can help your child stay safe during any major school sports. Most sports injuries at the youth level are preventable as long as your child does the following: 

Stretching at least fifteen minutes: Stretching is one of the most effective ways to prevent muscle cramps and pulls during physical activity. Make sure that your child gets in the appropriate stretches before the game for a fifteen-minute duration. Additionally, your child’s coach is likely to help maximize the effectiveness of stretches. 

Teach defensive skills during play: Staying alert and aloof helps to significantly reduce the chance that your child gets hurt during a game or match. Defensive skills such as making contact appropriately, stopping, keeping one’s head up, and in-game awareness help to reduce injuries. Have your child practice these skills frequently to improve their in-game safety. 

Going to urgent care for any immediate or sudden medical needs: If your child does experience a painful but non-emergency injury, make sure they go to a nearby urgent care center. An urgent care center can provide high-quality acute treatment that allows your child to heal and alleviate pain as soon as possible.