Sports & Athletic Performance

Recently Answered

• QHow can I help my kids play sports without burning out?

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  A Scripps Health answered

  Playing sports brings many benefits, such as improved fitness and better social skills. But pressure to succeed at a young age has mounted in recent years, setting the stage for more physical overuse injuries. Injuries such as stress fractures in children were unheard of years ago but now have become more common.
  
  Pushing kids too hard can also overwhelm the mind. Sports specialization at young ages has penetrated down to the baby crib. Focusing a child’s effort on a single sport full-time with the hope of gaining a competitive edge can lead to emotional stress or burnout.
  
  Even good intentions (such as securing an athletic scholarship) can cause harm if they encourage inappropriate activities for a child, produce unrealistic expectations and are not coupled with important knowledge of development. Sports should be what kids do -- not who they are.
• QHow can I make sports fun for my child?

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  A Scripps Health answered

  To improve the youth sports experience and increase fun, parents and coaches should remember the “four Ps.” Participation (all kids need to exercise); practicality (don’t define success strictly by wins; also recognize personal improvement); protection (resist the urge to train too hard, too soon) and performance (redefine “success” as personal improvement instead of winning). Competition can be healthy if approached with knowledge, patience and support.
• QHow can I help develop my child's sports skills?

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  A Scripps Health answered

  Sports should be what kids do -- not who they are. Common pitfalls can often be averted if parents and coaches take the time to understand how kids develop their athletic abilities. Children build sports skills in a progressive sequence of stages that simply can’t be dramatically sped up, and each stage should be patiently and fully developed before moving on to the next.
  
  When parents and coaches understand how sports skills develop, they provide the best opportunity to maximize the child’s athletic performance while minimizing pressure.
  
  To help kids effectively gain sports skills, parents and coaches need to understand four core developmental processes -- physical, visual, chemical and emotional. To start, here’s a sampling of physical sports skill milestones that are important to keep in mind:

  • Ages 2 to 5: Most kids can’t yet effectively throw and catch (due to immature visual development); basic skills like running and hopping are acquired through unstructured play.
  • Ages 6 to 9: The brain communicates better with the body’s nerves and muscles -- as a result, a basic toss may progress to a more accurate throw, balance is improved, and running becomes more natural.
  • Preadolescence (age 10 to puberty): Control of body motions becomes more automatic; eye-to-brain pathways mature, allowing for better visual judgment of speed and location, and memory abilities allow mastering of more complex plays.
  • Puberty (usually ages 11-13 for girls; 13-15 for boys): Due to rapid physical growth, there may be a temporary decline in balance skills and body control as the body’s center of gravity changes and arm/leg lengths increase.
  • Mid to late teens: More aerobic gains are achievable with training; strength gains occur more easily, but heavy weights should be avoided until the skeleton fully matures.
• QHow can I stay hydrated during a triathlon?

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  A Baptist Health South Florida answered

  If you’re competing in a triathlon, you should drink every 15-20 minutes. Alternate between water and sports drinks. During the run course, stop at a few water stations and pour water on yourself to help overcome the heat during the grueling final stretch.
  
  This content originally appeared online at Baptist Health South Florida.
• QHow old should my child be before starting sports?

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  A Scripps Health answered

  Starting a child’s sports career at an early age may seem like a smart way to get ahead. But research shows that beginning very young -- age four or sooner -- provides no benefit to future sports performance and may contribute to injuries and burnout. Kids build their sports skills in a progressive sequence that can’t be dramatically sped up, no matter how early, often or hard they train. Motor skills such as balance and running don’t fully develop until age six or seven, while the ability to visually track moving objects doesn’t mature until age eight or nine. 
• QWhat's the best technique for stand up paddleboarding?

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  A Int'l Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) answered

  The best technique for stand up paddleboarding is as follows:

  • start on knees, paddle while gaining balance
  • once balanced, gently place paddle crossways in front of knees
  • stand up with feet shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent
  • once standing, paddle to gain momentum
  • plant paddle under water surface and pull back toward ankle
  • to turn right, paddle on left with left hand lower on paddle
  • to turn left, move paddle to the right side and reverse hands

  A few short strokes on each side of the board and riders will move fluidly across the water in a straight line. Look forward or at the horizon instead of focusing on the feet. That’s it. Take a deep breath and enjoy the ride.
• QWhat is a triathlon?

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  A Int'l Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) answered

  A triathlon is a three-stage race that includes swimming, cycling and running that’s performed continuously. There are four different course lengths for a triathlon:
  
  Sprint: swim (0.47 miles); bike (12 miles); run (3.1 miles)
  Intermediate (or Olympic distance): swim (0.93 miles); bike (25 miles); run (6.2 miles)
  Long course: swim (1.2 miles); bike (56 miles); run (13.1 miles)
  Ultra: swim (2.4 miles); bike (112 miles); run (26.2 miles)
  
  The Ironman World Championship held in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii has attained near legendary status since launching in 1978. This is an ultra distance event, and is televised on major networks. As you can see above, the required lengths are brutal.
  
  Fun fact: The triathlon became an Olympic sport at the 2000 Sydney Games, utilizing the intermediate distance.
• QHow can I prepare for my first triathlon?

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  A Int'l Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) answered

  To prepare for your first triathlon, beginners should get their feet wet, literally, in a short sprint triathlon before tackling anything more demanding. But this is an event that requires tremendous endurance, and should be rehearsed before the real thing. You also need to do your quick-change prep by learning how to quickly change in designated areas from swim trunks to biking gear to running attire. There are plenty of triathlons held in different regions, so if you want to tackle this swim-ride-run trifecta, jump into a sprint triathlon somewhere near you.
• QHow many calories do I burn stand up paddleboarding?

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  A Int'l Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) answered

  Estimates of calories burned stand up paddleboarding in a one-hour workout range from 250 to 1,000, depending on your level of exertion. 
• QWhat is a sports physical exam?

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  A National Athletic Trainers' Association answered

  A sports physical exam, also referred to as a “physical,” ensures there are no pre-existing physical conditions that may limit or contraindicate your participation in a sport or activity. It’s important to undergo one on an annual basis, especially if you’re active in sports.

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