1. Wear Protect

1.WearProtectiveGear Protectivegearisanythingyouwearthathelpskeepyoufrom gettinghurt.Thegearyouwear dependsonthesportyouplay. Helmetsarethemostcommonprotectivegear.Theyprotectyourall-importantheadwhile you'replayingfootball,hockey,baseball,softball,biking,skateboarding,andinlineskating,just tonameafew! Makesureyou'rewearingtherighthelmetforyoursport.Forinstance,don'twearyourbaseball battinghelmetwhenyou'replayingfootball!Yourhelmetshouldfitsnuglybutcomfortably,and ifithasastrap—likeabikehelmetdoes—youneedtofastenit.Otherwise,itwillfalloffwhen youneeditmost. Othersportsrequireeyeprotection,mouthguards,pads,wrist,elbow,andkneeguards,anda protectivecup(forboys).Anddon'tforgetyourfeet.Cleatsareworninfootball,baseball, softball,andsoccer.Theseshoeshavespecialrubberorplasticpointsonthesolestohelpyour feetgripthegroundwhenyourunaround. Talkwithyourparentsoryourcoachtoknowwhatgearyouneed.Thenwearthatgear wheneveryou'repracticingorplaying. 2.Warm Up It'snotagoodideatojustboltontothefieldandstartplaying.Youshouldn'tevenstart stretchinguntilyou'realittlewarmedup.Sodosomewarm-upexercisesortakealightjogto getloosenedupandreadytoplay. 3.KnowtheRulesoftheGame Trafficlightsatintersectionshelppreventcrashesbetweenthemanycarsandtrucksthatdrive ontheroadstogether.Thisworksbecausedriversknowtherulesandfollowthem.It'sthesame waywithsports.

Whenplayersknowtherulesofthegame,fewerinjurieshappen.Youandtheotherplayers knowwhattoexpectfrom eachother.Forinstance,youknowthatinsocceryoucan'tcome from behind,crashintoaplayer'slegs,andstealtheball.It'sbetter—andsafer—togoafterthe ballratherthantheplayer. Withsportsthatuseplays,ithelpstounderstandtheplaysandwhatyourroleisineachone. Beingwhereyou'resupposedtobecanhelpyoustayoutofharm'sway,too. 4.WatchOutforOthers Somerulesdon'thaveanythingtodowithscoringpointsorpenalties.Somerulesarejustabout protectingotherpeopleandbeingnice.Forinstance,inbaseballorsoftball,thebattercan'tfling thebatafterhittingtheballandheadingforfirstbase.Theymustdropitsothatitdoesn'thit anyone.Likewise,adiverwouldmakesurethatthepoolwasclearbeforedivingin.Otherwise, theymightlandonsomeoneelse. Onewayyoucanwatchoutforothersistocommunicateonthefield.Forinstance,abaseball playerintheoutfieldmightyell\"Igotit\"toavoidacollisionwithanotheroutfielder. Listeningtoyourcoachduringagamealsocanhelpkeepyousafe.It'salsogoodtojustbe courteous,liketellingsomeonetheirshoeisuntied.Checkyourshoestoo! 5.Don'tPlayWhenYou'reInjured Thisisareallyimportantone.Ifyoulovesports,it'stemptingtogetrightbackinthegame,even afteraninjury.Butplayingwhenyou'rehurt—orbeforeaninjuryhashadachancetofullyheal —isabadidea.Itcanleadtoanevenworseinjury,onethatmightsidelineyouforalongtime. Behonestwithparentsandcoachesifyou'vebeenhurt.Seeadoctorforyourinjuries,when necessary,andfollowtheiradviceabouthowandwhentoreturntopracticeandplay.