Some safety and health tips found and forwarded by one of our youth players - Thanks Jackson

Safety and Injury Prevention
The first way to stay safe is to go to the doctor before ever stepping out onto the field or up onto the diving board. Pre-season physicals let doctors thoroughly examine kids and find any possible issues or conditions that would make playing that sport unsafe for that particular young athlete. After the doctor gives the OK, there are still important steps to take to stay safe. One is to make sure to always warm up before practices and games and cool down afterward. Walking, stretching, and light jogging are great warm-ups and cool-down exercises. When stretching, never bounce, as that causes injuries to muscles. Never play when sick or in pain: Pain is the body's way of saying something is wrong. Only play on clean, well-maintained fields. Wet or broken playing surfaces lead to injuries. And always wear proper protective equipment and well-fitting footwear.

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Hydration and Nutrition
Eating and drinking are important parts of self-care and can help athletes to ensure peak performance. Good nutrition and hydration can also help young athletes prevent injuries. For example, dehydration fatigues the muscles, so a dehydrated athlete will not play at the top of their performance capability. Dehydration is also dangerous. Stories about student athletes passing out due to dehydration hit the news media each year. Drinking a lot of water is usually enough to stay hydrated, but if you're exercising or playing for long periods in the heat, sports drinks can help keep sodium and other minerals stabilized in the body. Similarly, eating well is important. Good nutrition helps keeps athletes from tiring out before the game or practice ends. It's important to eat enough calories to fuel workouts and games, and it's also important that those calories contain enough carbohydrates, proteins, and healthy fats. Eating disorders are sometimes developed by young athletes. Any athlete who finds themselves restricting certain foods or having other food-related issues needs to speak to an adult or health professional as soon as possible.