A Kick in the Shins
Two-thirds of student athletes put their lower half at risk during sports activities.
Whether it's a feeling of invincibility or that they're always in a rush, most students opt out of wearing simple protection like kneepads and shin guards during sports. Encourage kids to protect themselves from painful and disabling injuries by finding protective gear that suits their style as well as their sport and reminding them to wear it.
School sports provide an excellent opportunity for your child to have fun and stay fit, but sports activities are the second most frequent cause of injury for both male and female adolescents.
According to this study, kids were more likely to wear protective gear if their teammates did, so work together with other parents to encourage compliance throughout the team. Each sport has its own safety requirements, so always talk to coaches at the start of the season and find out what the kids are expected to wear. Plus, remind your kids that practices are potentially just as dangerous as games, and that they should be just as diligent with their gear during practices. If your child has had a previous injury, talk to your doctor about steps to take for extra protection.
