ssc_marcomms posted on January 01, 2010 09:00
General Football Safety Tips
Warm-up: Start with five minutes of light aerobic exercises to raise your heart rate. Jogging or side-stepping are good ways to achieve this.
Stay hydrated
Cool-down & Stretch: Slow down with some slow jogging and static stretches to help your body recover and improve flexibility.
Listen to your body: If you are not feeling well, the best alternative is to refrain from exercising. Do the PAR-Q as explained below to assess your readiness for sports.
Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q)
The PAR-Q is designed to help you assess your level of readiness for physical activity. It is simple and takes only a fraction of your time to complete. If you are planning to become much more physically active than you are now, start by answering the seven questions below. If you are between the ages of 15 - 69, the PAR-Q will tell you if you should first consult your doctor. If you are over 69 years of age, and you are not used to being very active, consult your doctor.
1. Has your doctor ever said that you have a heart condition and that you should only do physical activities recommended by your doctor?
2. Do you feel pain in your chest when you do any physical activity?
3. In the past month, have you had chest pains when you were not doing any physical activities?
4. Have you ever lost consciousness or your balance because of dizziness?
5. Do you have a hip or joint problem (e.g. bad knee or hip) that could be made worse by a change in your level of physical activity?
6. Is your doctor currently prescribing drugs (e.g. water pills) for your blood pressure or heart condition?
7. Do you know of any other reason why you should not do physical activity?
If you answer is YES to one or more questions, please consult your doctor before you start on any physical activity. Ask if you need to change your physical activity plan.
Think Safe. Play Safe. Stay Safe
SSC Sports Safety Division