Mix Up the Sideline Snack
Are you in charge of the sideline snack this week? Serve up fruit slices, veggie sticks, water, or whole grain crackers.
More American children are competing in sports than ever before. Sports help children and adolescents keep their bodies fit and feel good about themselves. However, there are some important injury prevention tips that can help you promote a safe, optimal sports experience for your child.
Injury Risks
All sports have a risk of injury. In general, the more contact in a sport, the greater the risk of a traumatic injury. However, most injuries in young athletes are due to overuse.
Most frequent sports injuries are sprains (injuries to ligaments) strains (injuries to muscles), and stress fractures (injury to bone) caused when an abnormal stress is placed on tendons, joints, bones and muscle. In a growing child, point tenderness over a bone should be evaluated further by a medical provider even if there is minimal swelling or limitation in motion. Contact your pediatrician if you have additional questions or concerns.
To reduce the risk of injury:
Sports-Related Emotional Stress
The pressure to win can cause significant emotional stress for a child. Sadly, many coaches and parents consider winning the most important aspect of sports. Young athletes should be judged on effort, sportsmanship and hard work. They should be rewarded for trying hard and for improving their skills rather than punished or criticized for losing a game or competition. The main goal should be to have fun and learn lifelong physical activity skills.
Copyright © 2016 American Academy of Pediatrics
Free healthcare is available for Orange County Public Schools students this summer through the cooperative efforts of Healthcare Providers of Florida, Orange County Public Schools, and the Orange County Citizens’ Commission for Children. Services include school entry, sports physical and Special Olympics physicals, as well as sick visits for diagnosis and treatment of illness and injury, including prescriptions. All healthcare services are provided by nurse practitioners.
Lake Weston Elementary
550 Milan Drive
Orlando, FL 32810
407-286-2947
Dates of Service: July 12, 13, 19, 20
Walker Middle School
150 Amadon Lane
Orlando, FL 32809
407-850-5101
Dates of Service: July 11, 12, 18, 21, 25, 26, 28 and August 1, 4, 8, 11
Adapted from Very Well
As soon as your child joins his first tiny tot soccer team, he starts to learn sportsmanship. Teaching it is part of his coach’s job—but it’s also your responsibility, and one that’s shared by every sports parent. Kids are watching, so be a good role model, right from the beginning. Here’s the grown-up version of 10 basic sportsmanship principles every young athlete should know.
1. Play by the rules. Don’t lie to the coach about why your child skipped practice, or try to sneak him onto a team he’s not ready for. Rules are in place to keep the sport safe, fair, and fun for everyone. Don’t teach your child that exceptions are okay; that doesn’t build team unity.
2. Be a team player. Help the coaches when you can, and cheer for every team member. Being a team player also means not asking for special treatment, such as extra playing time, for your own child.
3. Be a good friend. Seek to be kind and inclusive when you interact with the parents of your child’s teammates, as well as coaches, officials, league administrators, and so on. Remember, almost everyone is a volunteer and is there because his or her child loves the sport.
4. Own your mistakes. It happens: You forget a piece of equipment, deliver your child to practice late, or mess up a task you volunteered to do.
5. Avoid “trash talk.” If you have negative opinions of coaches, players, officials, parents, or anyone else involved in the sport, keep them to yourself. That goes double anytime you’re within earshot of your child, her teammates, their opponents, and any other sports parents. If you have to vent, never do it in public or online. Save it for a private conversation with your spouse or a trusted friend.
6. Say “thank you.” It’s just good manners—and it helps keeps a sports program running smoothly. Everyone likes to feel recognized and appreciated.
7. Ask other fans to be good sports too. If you bring your other children, relatives and friends to your child’s games and events, make sure they are good spectators.
8. Shake hands after the game. While you may not be down on the field with your child doing the customary handshake, you can interact politely with the opposing team’s parents in the stands and anywhere else you encounter them.
9. Be respectful when you win. Just as you’d tell your child: Winning is fun! Enjoy it, but not at the expense of the losing team.
10. Be gracious when you lose. When the game doesn’t go your way, accept it and move on. This isn’t the time to berate the officials or coaches. Let the coach debrief the team and show them how to learn from the loss. Your role is to support your child and help him deal with any disappointment.
Adapted from the American Academy of Pediatrics
All sports have a risk of injury. In general, the more contact in a sport, the greater the risk of a traumatic injury. However, most injuries in young athletes are due to overuse.
Most frequent sports injuries are sprains (injuries to ligaments) strains (injuries to muscles), and stress fractures (injury to bone) caused when an abnormal stress is placed on tendons, joints, bones and muscle. In a growing child, point tenderness over a bone should be evaluated further by a medical provider even if there is minimal swelling or limitation in motion. Contact your pediatrician if you have additional questions or concerns.
Sports-Related Emotional Stress
The pressure to win can cause significant emotional stress for a child. Sadly, many coaches and parents consider winning the most important aspect of sports. Young athletes should be judged on effort, sportsmanship and hard work. They should be rewarded for trying hard and for improving their skills rather than punished or criticized for losing a game or competition. The main goal should be to have fun and learn lifelong physical activity skills.
This year marks the 30th annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day (NGWSD), a national observance celebrating the extraordinary achievements of women and girls in sports.
Join us in recognizing the extraordinary achievements of those who have helped to effect change and create opportunities for women and girls in sports.
Use the hashtag #NGWSD to join the festivities online. Your NGWSD moment could be featured on our site.
For more information, visit http://ngwsd.org
By: President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition
How do you like your burger? Consider ditching the traditional beef or turkey patty for a black bean burger. When the beans are smashed and mixed with just the right spice, you end up with a delicious alternative.
This substitution is also great for anyone looking for a healthy option without sacrificing taste. Black beans are low in fat, cholesterol-free, and provide 30% of the daily recommended amount of fiber.
Give this recipe a try and tell the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition how you like it! Be sure to share pictures on Twitter. Tag @FitnessGov and/or hashtag #CookWithTheCouncil
#CookWithTheCouncil – Dr. Jayne’s Black Bean Burgers!
Ingredients:
Burger Patties:
1 can of black beans drained and rinsed
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 chopped cloves of fresh garlic
¼ cup diced sweet Vidalia onions
1 egg or 2 egg white (no yolk)
1 teaspoon of cumin
1 teaspoon of chili powder (if you like a bit of spice)
1 ½ cup bread crumbs
Other Ingredients:
Whole wheat hamburger buns
1 whole fresh avocado
Preparation:
VARIATION: You can change up the flavor of your black bean burger to your taste by the types of toppings you add. This can include lettuce and tomato, salsa, cheese, etc.
By: President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition
How do you like your burger? Consider ditching the traditional beef or turkey patty for a black bean burger. When the beans are smashed and mixed with just the right spice, you end up with a delicious alternative.
This substitution is also great for anyone looking for a healthy option without sacrificing taste. Black beans are low in fat, cholesterol-free, and provide 30% of the daily recommended amount of fiber.
Give this recipe a try and tell the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition how you like it! Be sure to share pictures on Twitter. Tag @FitnessGov and/or hashtag #CookWithTheCouncil
#CookWithTheCouncil – Dr. Jayne’s Black Bean Burgers!
Ingredients:
Burger Patties:
1 can of black beans drained and rinsed
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 chopped cloves of fresh garlic
¼ cup diced sweet Vidalia onions
1 egg or 2 egg white (no yolk)
1 teaspoon of cumin
1 teaspoon of chili powder (if you like a bit of spice)
1 ½ cup bread crumbs
Other Ingredients:
Whole wheat hamburger buns
1 whole fresh avocado
Preparation:
VARIATION: You can change up the flavor of your black bean burger to your taste by the types of toppings you add. This can include lettuce and tomato, salsa, cheese, etc.