How active are you?
Getting active is a key part of a healthy lifestyle. By starting young, you can build a fun and healthy habit for a lifetime. Teens and young adults can find ways to live healthy and happy through sports activities in high school and beyond.
Parents (and grandparents) -- please feel free to share this with the middle- and high- school students in your family and circle of friends. Playing athletics in a healthy and smart way will help them gain skills that last a lifetime.
Find a sport that’s the right fit. Between physical ability and personality, not every sport is for everyone. Take stock of your natural abilities, and decide what you hope to take away from your participation. Some individuals love the thrill of intense competition while other athletes enjoy the camaraderie of intramural sports. Team sports require cooperation, but individual sports recognize individual achievements. With dozens of activities to choose from, you’re bound to find something you enjoy.
Use the right equipment. Injuries do happen, even when you’re just practicing or playing for fun. Studies report that more than sixty percent of youth sports injuries occurred at practice, not in competition. Whether it’s a supportive pair of running shoes or a helmet and safety pads, play it safe by using the correct protective equipment.
Train smart. When training for a sport, optimize your conditioning instead of just maximizing your workouts. Overtraining can cause serious damage to muscles and joints. Athletes can avoid overuse injuries by using cross-training strategies to strengthen some muscles while resting others. When physical training is balanced with rest and recovery periods, skill and strength develop quickly.
Organized athletics offer great rewards to everyone involved. Playing sports boosts physical health. Joining a new activity opens the door to meeting friends and finding opportunities. The most important thing to remember is to be a good sport by being respectful and encouraging at all times. That goes for parents too!