Everyone knows that getting involved in sports can benefit the youth. Athletic activities can develop motor and mental skills, improve overall health, and build character. On top of that, physical recreation can provide an ideal setting for forging friendships and gaining experiences one can cherish for years to come.
Youth Sports Protective Gear
But even with all the benefits that a person can gain from sports, one shouldn’t forget that any form of physical exertion carries some risks. Countless athletes have sustained injuries while playing or practicing their respective sports. It’s probably the reason why some parents don’t want their kids to join sports activities.
Fortunately, parents can invest in youth sports protective gear to minimize the chances that their kids will be injured while participating in sports. With the proper protective equipment, kids and their parents can enjoy the sports they love without worrying about physical risks.
Here are some of the essential protective athletic equipment that kids should have when playing sports:
Protective Guards And Pads
Sports like football, skateboarding, and even baseball can expose young athletes to injuries. Protective youth sports pads can cushion the body from trauma and prevent severe bruises or even bone fractures.
Protective pads are typically used to cover the elbows, shoulders, neck, thighs, and shins, helping prevent cuts. Apart from cuts to the skin, wearing protective guards can provide added support to the joints and prevent them from breaking after contact with excessive force during the game.
For example, you’ll typically see volleyball players wearing knee pads because of the pressure directed towards their knees as they jump and dive on the court.
For soccer goalies, a high-quality pair of gloves not only protects their hands from the ball, but also improves their grip.
Sports Helmets
Trauma to the head can be lethal. Thus, helmets are the predominant protective gear in many sports. Sports Injury Central explains that athletes involved in any sport that poses a high risk of injury to the head can benefit from wearing the proper headgear.
Apart from traditional games, like football and hockey. Extreme sports events can pose a higher risk of head injuries among athletes. For instance, dirt biking accidents can happen anytime, even to experienced riders. Parents who take their kid’s safety seriously should know that investing in protective headgear. Will reduce the likelihood that their child will suffer head injuries while playing extreme sports.
Goggles And Other Eyewear
Over 90% of eye injuries in sports can be prevented with proper eye protective gear, says the American Academy of Ophthalmology. So, if your child is participating in a contact sport, it makes sense to invest in protective eyewear.
This gear doesn’t have to be expensive, but be sure to get one designed for the specific sport your young one participates in. In addition to minimizing the risk of eye trauma, suitable protective eyewear also has a tint to protect against glare.
Mouthguards
Many professional leagues in various sports have mandated the use of mouthguards as protective gear to prevent injury to the mouth, jaw, or face. In youth sports, like soccer, it may not be part of the regulations. However, even if it may not be required, it’s still a necessary piece of protective equipment to use during games or practice sessions.
Which Youth Sports Protective Gear are Best
Kids can end up having fractured jaw, lip or tongue injuries, and broken teeth after getting hit by stray baseball or accidentally smacked on the face while scrambling for a rebound in basketball. To ensure utmost protection, the mouthpiece should be made of durable material. It should also fit well and not hamper the wearer’s breathing or speech. Since this gear is placed inside the mouth, it would also be a good idea to look for one that’s easy to clean and maintain.
Protective Cups
Even with kids, contact sports, like hockey, basketball, or football, could become intense and rough. Thus, boys should consider wearing protective cups with adequate padding to keep their groin area from getting the full impact of a runaway ball or direct slaps.
For noncontact sports, like running, teens may use athletic supporters instead. Ask your kid’s coach or trainer if you’re unsure what proper groin safety gear your young one should wear.
Sports Shoes
Wearing the right type of shoes for specific sports activities is crucial in preventing sprains, slips, and other foot or ankle injuries. For example, cleats are vital in sports, like soccer and baseball, because they prevent players from slipping, especially in wet and muddy fields. Special cycling footwear is necessary to help boost pedal efficiency and to minimize foot pain. Running shoes have special pads in the right places to help reduce the risk of overuse injury. Lastly, court shoes are designed with proper traction to boost support, balance, and sturdiness in indoor badminton, tennis, and basketball.
Conclusion on Youth Sports Protective Gear
Participating in sports is essential in the overall development of a child. However, before you allow your kids to train for their football games using an Anytime Sports Supply tackling wheel or be involved in any sport that requires lots of body contact, make sure to invest in the proper protective equipment first.