Archive for Soccer
Mouthguards are a MUST for Field Sports
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Last night my daughter had her first field hockey practice and I am not sure who learned more – her or me. At the very beginning of the practice her coach took a few minutes to introduce herself to the parents, let us know what to expect from practices and games, and took the time to tell us about the single most important piece of field hockey gear our daughters need for the season – a good mouthguard.
A good mouthguard will serve two key roles in the safety of an athlete:
- The mouthguard will protect the teeth and gums from lacerations, breaks and other injuries as a result of being hit by the ball, a stick, another player, or falls.
- The mouthguard will also offer a level of protection against concussions by stabilizing the jaw and absorbing some of the impact.
Mouthguards will not prevent all injuries, but according to mouthguard manufacturer Shock Doctor, it is estimated that mouthguards prevent more than 200,000 injuries each year.
The athletes are required to wear their mouthguards anytime a ball is in play – which means from the beginning of practice until the end and the entire game. It’s just that important. Our league has even gone as far as to require the athletes wear colored mouthguards to make it much easier for coaches and referees to visually check for mouthguards.
So, what kind of mouthguard do you get? Based on the research I have been doing and the recommendation of our coaches, the newer technology, double layer mouthguards are the way to go. Yes, they are more expensive, but the construction of the mouthguard is going to give more protection for your athlete. If your athlete wears braces, they make mouthguards specifically for braces, too (like the one pictured at the left).
Once you have the mouthguard, be sure to follow the manufacturers instructions to a tee to get the best fit and most comfort for your player. Most require the mouthguard be boiled and then the athlete to bite on the mouthguard very hard while it is in their mouth. The better fitting mouthguard, the better! You may have to try a few mouthguards before your athlete finds the one that works best and while there are mouthguards for youth, intermediate and adult, take into account your child’s mouth size not just their age when picking out a mouthguard. Our daughter is very tall for 9 and while the youth mouthguard says ages 10 and under, her mouth fits much more comfortably into the one for ages 11 and up.
After each wear be sure to wash and dry the mouthguard and remind your athlete not to chew on it.
More resources on Mouthguards and their relationship to injury and concussion prevention in youth athletes:
- Mouthguard Facts
- Commentary: Role of Properly Fitted Mouthguards in Prevention of Sport-Related Concussion
- American Association of Orthodontics on Why Mouthguards
If your child (or you) play field hockey, ice hockey, soccer, lacrosse, football, softball, baseball or any other potential contact sport (ball, puck, stick or person), a good quality, good fitting mouthguard is an investment you absolutely must make!! As you can see, there is a wide range of styles and sizes available. Find one that works for your child and if the league doesn’t require it – you should! (click on the images below for where to buy).
Workout Wednesday – Girls Soccer Conditioning and Drills
Posted by: | CommentsIn honor of Spring and the official kick off of soccer season in neighborhoods all across the country, today’s Workout Wednesday features the Milton Magic girls soccer team doing ball drills, plyometrics and agility exercises.
One of the things I like so much about soccer is that it is a sport that requires very little special equipment, can be played or training can take place just about anywhere, and its a great sport for kids of all ages!
Spring is in the Air
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Photo credit: kconnors from morguefile.com
After one of the coldest, snowiest winters ever on the east coast, today finally felt like spring to me. The crisp blue sky, light wind and fresh smell in the air were part of it. The other part – MUD – glorious mud!
The pool my daughter swims at is on the campus of a small private high school. Today was the first day in a long time I have seen their athletes practicing outside – from soccer to golf, to softball and track, the kids were out.
The soccer players were obviously having the most fun as they were pretty much covered in mud from running and doing drills on a field that was covered in 20+” of snow only 4 short weeks ago. The teenage girls didn’t even seem phased by the mud – they just kicked off their muddy cleats at the entrance and went back to the conversation at hand – boys.
Tomorrow’s temperature is going to the low 70′s which means I may have to recruit a friend or two and go play golf – or even just hit off a bucket of balls. That new sporty pink and black golf towel I got for Christmas needs to see the sun. If nothing else, I can look forward to our afternoon run while the kids are at swim practice.
Ah… spring!
