What You Can Do To Ensure Your Child Is Safe On The Ice
As we gear up for the next hockey season, there are many reasons why parents will sign their kids up to play. First, any sport can be a tremendous source of fun and enjoyment for a child; a good thing to look forward to on weekends and after school. Hockey also teaches children a lot of life and social skills, and gives them the opportunity to make a lot of new friends.
However, of all the hopes that parents have when they sign their child up to play hockey – having fun, getting exercise, personal development – one of the most important ones is safety. Above all else, parents just want their kids to be safe, especially while playing sports where, if no precautions are taken, the risk of injury can be high.
Every hockey league will have its own set of safety requirements, which will involve information about the appropriate gear to wear for practices and games, and rules for how to behave safely on the ice. As well, the referees and coaches will have their eye open for any players who are being unsafe or are at risk of injury. However, it’s tough as a parent to rely on others to ensure the safety of your child, so here are some extra precautions you can take to make certain your kid will be safe all season long:
Make Sure They’re Wearing the Right Gear
Hockey comes with a whole bunch of safety gear that every player should wear to avoid injury. There are helmets, mouth guards, gloves, pads for knees, elbows, and shoulders, and even neck protectors, to name some. Not only should you, as a parent, ensure they’re wearing all the gear they are supposed to, but it is also important to make sure the gear fits properly. If any of the protective equipment is too large or too small, it can become uncomfortable and lose some of its functionality.
Similarly, if any piece of equipment becomes worn or damaged, it also may compromise your child’s safety. A good way to reduce the wear and tear of hockey equipment is to hang it to dry after every practice and game. It is also a good habit to inspect the hockey equipment every so often so you can catch tears or cracks and identify equipment which needs to be replaced.
Get Them to Stretch Before They Get Out on the Ice
Stretching is one of the most crucial components of any sport. Hockey is a high-intensity activity, so whether your child is going to a practice or playing a game, they should make sure their body is ready to withstand the exercise. The best way to do this is to stretch or even do hockey player specific Yoga!
Stretching every time before going out on the ice can vastly reduce your child’s chance of injury, as well as increase their recovery time. If they warm up their muscles before they’re used they will be way less likely to pull one during their exercise, and they won’t hurt as much they day after a tough practice or game.
Some of the best things to keep in mind when stretching are:
- Vary your stretches over your entire body
- Focus on the muscles you’ll be using the most
- Hold your stretch for 20 – 30 seconds
- Don’t bounce when stretching
- Make sure you stretch symmetrically – If you stretch one arm, stretch the other right after
Inform the Coach of Any Additional Safety Concerns
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the safety of your child when it comes to hockey, you should always talk to their coach. One of the coach’s primary concerns is the safety of their team, so they will always be willing to make your child’s hockey environment safer if need be. Also, don’t hesitate to let the coach know if they need to take additional safety measures specific to your child. They should always do their best to work with you on accommodating your child.
Safety is something that should always be taken seriously, especially in sport. While the primary reason people play sports is to have fun, it should never come at the cost of someone’s well-being. If you take the right steps to ensure your child will be safe out on the ice, it will alleviate any worries you might have so you and your child can focus on them having fun playing the sport that they love.
