A month before the season begins, kids should run or get some kind of general physical activity once or twice a week. They should work up to three or four times a week by the time team workouts start. Know your child's nonverbal signals. Youngsters are notoriously uncommunicative about their bodies, so you need to observe your kids closely. While a player might be too distracted during a game to feel his pain, parents and coaches should notice whether he is favoring a leg or has residual soreness after the game.
Some athletes downplay injuries to avoid being benched.
Of the five major conditioning components endurance, strength, flexibility, speed, and skill skill is the most directly related to avoiding injuries, according to Dr. John F. Duff, an orthopedic surgeon in Danvers, Massachusetts. For example, a child needs proper skills for handling a lacrosse stick to catch the ball without hitting a teammate or injuring a shoulder. Make sure your child's program teaches technique in preseason clinics and throughout the season. A proper warm-up before playing is important for kids of all ages, says Duff. It is critical during growth spurts, when children's muscles and tendons are tight.