High School Sports are just starting up with preseason across the northeast this week and it is an exciting time of year. Whether your kids are getting ready for soccer, football, cross-country, volleyball or swimming this fall, here are a few tips for a more successful preseason.
Sunscreen
Sunscreen is really important for practicing outdoors, especially if your kid is susceptible to bad sunburns. During double sessions, they should reapply before the second session and any time during training that they are starting to get burned. Even with a football helmet on kids can still get sunburned, so be sure that they put sunscreen on their face. Getting ready for the season is difficult enough, they shouldn’t have to worry about sunburn too.
Icing
At the start of the high school sports season, students will likely be doing lots of conditioning. This can lead to fatigue and eventually injuries. One way to reduce this is though icing. While an ice bath may be uncomfortable, it can really help muscles to recover faster. Faster recovery decreases injury risk throughout the season. If an ice bath isn’t feasible, students can always use ice packs on injuries or sore muscles to help relieve pain as well as aid in recovery.
Eat enough healthy food
Eating healthy and enough calories for the increased output during preseason is very important. Make sure to fill them up on healthy fruits and vegetables as well as lean protein. High school kids like to eat junk food and this is alright, as long as they are getting some balance in their diet as well. Some good choices are peanut butter or almonds. It is important to be well fed and strong in throughout preseason.
Hydration
Last but not least, hydration! Hydration is always important and everyone should strive drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day according to the Mayo Clinic, especially athletes. Hydration for preseason can even start the night before and should continue throughout practice. This is essential to avoid dehydration as well as heatstroke and exhaustion. Sports drinks such as Gatorade help with hydration, as long as they are not used too much to replace water. Sports drinks help to replenish electrolytes and salt that is lost during a really tough workout. Conventional wisdom says to use these during the workout and have water before and after, but you can never go wrong with just water.
Preseason for High School Sports
Preseason is an exciting time and getting in playing form as well as staying healthy. Use these few tips and your kids will be ready when the season starts!
