There are many pieces of information you need to know when your child plays on a sports team. You need to do your research and make sure that not only your child will be comfortable, but that you will be able to make it work as well. Before your child plays on a sports team you need to understand the time commitment, ensure safety, and prepare for costs.
Understand the Time Commitment
There are major time commitments when your child plays on a sports team. This will depend on the level of the team and the sport, but your child will be spending significant time during the season. This will require time out of your schedule for driving to practices and games and will require sacrifices of other extracurricular activities. Once you feel you are committed you also need to ensure that your child is ready to accept the level of commitment the sport entails.
Ensure Safety
You need to take precautions to ensure your child stays safe while participating on a sports team. Each sport has its own risks involved, but there are many things you can do to help ensure risks are reduced. To start, you will want a pre-participation physical to ensure your child is healthy. You should ensure your child is hydrated and warms up properly prior to participation. You should also ensure they always wear the appropriate gear that fits them well and is free from defects. There are several sports that require mouthguards for players. If the sport requires such equipment, you should make sure your child knows how important it is to wear it.
Prepare for Costs
Participating on sports teams can be expensive. This depends on which sport your child plays and at what level, but either way you will be covering some sort of expense for participation. The basics include uniforms and equipment, while many teams also require participation fees. You may also find yourself paying for additional training to help your child succeed. You can save money for these and plan to lower costs by fundraising or by buying cheaper equipment.
You and your child should not commit to a sports team without being fully aware of everything involved. This will require you to do some research before making any decisions. You should understand the time commitment, ensure safety, and prepare for costs.
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