Children and young athletes
Children and young athletes have specific physical capabilities, and so it is important that special care is taken into consideration/practice when they are involved in sport.
Medical Conditions
The most common medical conditions that children and young athletes have to manage while participating in soccer or any other sport are asthma, diabetes, and epilepsy. These medical conditions impact the ability of some children and young athletes to be continually active in sport. It is important that the coach of the soccer team is aware of the athletes medical conditions so that they have a treatment management plan ready, put preventative strategies into action, monitor their progress constantly throughout their participation in the game so that they can be safe and still enjoy playing soccer.
Overuse injuries (stress fractures)
Overuse injuries are also common in children due to their different growth rates of bone and soft tissue. Overuse injuries occur from repetitive actions that place too much stress on the bone and muscles. The more the athlete plays soccer (or any other sport), the greater the increase that the child will experience and overuse injury. These injuries can be caused by a number of factors, including inadequate warm up, poor technique, faulty equipment, too much training or training at a high intensity for a long period of time. Thus, it is important that the coach is aware of this so they can monitor the children/young athletes and prevent them from experiencing any overuse injuries.
Thermoregulation
When exercising in the heat, children and young athletes usually have a higher core temperature than adults. This is due to factors including sweating less, and a reduced sweat mechanism. Because of this, it is vital that they are given regular breaks when participating in soccer training or the game (preferably in the shade), have regular sips of water, put on sunscreen and wear appropriate clothing. Conversely, in colder temperatures, children and young athletes can be more susceptible to the cold, so they will need appropriate clothing and exercise to keep warm. For example, if the game is early in the morning and the weather temperature is quite low, the participants should wear warm jackets/jumpers before the game and after the game to keep warm.
Appropriateness of resistance training
Depending on the physical/medical needs of the athlete, resistance training may be an appropriate from of training. Sport trainers or coaches of the athletes participating in soccer should take the time to evaluate each player’s physical and mental ability, interest level, prior experience and individual goals. A properly designed and supervised training program will help improve a child’s overall health and sense of psychosocial wellbeing. It can also help strengthen muscles to prevent injuries occurring when participating in soccer.
Medical Conditions
The most common medical conditions that children and young athletes have to manage while participating in soccer or any other sport are asthma, diabetes, and epilepsy. These medical conditions impact the ability of some children and young athletes to be continually active in sport. It is important that the coach of the soccer team is aware of the athletes medical conditions so that they have a treatment management plan ready, put preventative strategies into action, monitor their progress constantly throughout their participation in the game so that they can be safe and still enjoy playing soccer.
Overuse injuries (stress fractures)
Overuse injuries are also common in children due to their different growth rates of bone and soft tissue. Overuse injuries occur from repetitive actions that place too much stress on the bone and muscles. The more the athlete plays soccer (or any other sport), the greater the increase that the child will experience and overuse injury. These injuries can be caused by a number of factors, including inadequate warm up, poor technique, faulty equipment, too much training or training at a high intensity for a long period of time. Thus, it is important that the coach is aware of this so they can monitor the children/young athletes and prevent them from experiencing any overuse injuries.
Thermoregulation
When exercising in the heat, children and young athletes usually have a higher core temperature than adults. This is due to factors including sweating less, and a reduced sweat mechanism. Because of this, it is vital that they are given regular breaks when participating in soccer training or the game (preferably in the shade), have regular sips of water, put on sunscreen and wear appropriate clothing. Conversely, in colder temperatures, children and young athletes can be more susceptible to the cold, so they will need appropriate clothing and exercise to keep warm. For example, if the game is early in the morning and the weather temperature is quite low, the participants should wear warm jackets/jumpers before the game and after the game to keep warm.
Appropriateness of resistance training
Depending on the physical/medical needs of the athlete, resistance training may be an appropriate from of training. Sport trainers or coaches of the athletes participating in soccer should take the time to evaluate each player’s physical and mental ability, interest level, prior experience and individual goals. A properly designed and supervised training program will help improve a child’s overall health and sense of psychosocial wellbeing. It can also help strengthen muscles to prevent injuries occurring when participating in soccer.