As a parent, your biggest fear is probably that your child
would be injured while playing hockey. While the risk of injury is real in
youth hockey, that doesn’t mean that you should pull your child out of a sport
he or she loves. Instead, it just means that you need to be all the more
cautious when it comes to keeping your little hockey player safe on the ice.
Make the Doctor Your Friend
To begin with, your child should visit a doctor for a
complete physical before he or she even tries out or signs up for the local
hockey team. Most good teams will flat-out require a physical to be
Don’t just ditch the doctor after your child’s physical
though. Instead, make sure your child visits the doctor at least twice a year
for routine checkups. The doctor can ensure that hockey isn’t causing too many
physical issues for your little one and that he or she remains in good overall
health. Also make sure you see a doctor anytime your child complains of aches
or pains or suffers even the most minor injury during gameplay or practice.
Invest in a Great Helmet
It should go without saying that your child needs to be
wearing every piece of safety equipment ever invented for young hockey players
when he or she is on the ice. However, no other piece of safety equipment is
more important than your child’s helmet. Invest in the best possible helmet
money can buy. Ideally, you want one that’s been certified by the Hockey
Equipment Certification Council and that features a chin cup and a face mask
that covers the entire face. Also make sure that the helmet fits snugly on your
child’s head.
Warm Up Every Time
You also want to make sure that your child is warming up
before every single game and practice. Children’s muscles need to be limber and
ready to move before hockey can be played safely and to the child’s maximum
ability. Not only do you need to make sure your child warms up properly, but
you also want to ensure that your child’s coach understands the importance of
warming up and enforces thorough warm-ups before each game, exercise session,
or practice.
If you can keep these simple tips in mind, you’ll feel
better knowing that your child is a whole lot safer while enjoying the rough
and tumble game of hockey.
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