Understanding basketball safety tips:
Basketball is a fast game with frequent and aggressive body contacts. Injuries are common so it is important to be aware of basketball safety tips.
The number one basketball injury is overall ankle sprains. Basketball players tend to injure their hands, ankles and knees most frequently.
Injuries while playing basketball are commonly caused by falls, player contact, awkward landings, abrupt changes in direction and being hit by the ball
Basketball injuries related to overuse;
These are injuries that occur due to constant stress on a particular part of the body. Knee and ankle injuries occur in this category. Jumper’s knee is one such injury in which there is a constant throbbing or painful feeling in the area below the knee.
If one continues to play through pain, a potentially bad injury becomes much worse.
Acilles tendonitis is another overuse injury. Here, the leg tendon connecting the calf to the heel can tear. Pain in the rotator cuff muscles is yet another overuse injury.
Other basketball injuries
This is another area where awareness of these safety tips needs to be quite high. Head concussion, broken wrists, ankle sprains, jammed fingers tends to be traumatic i.e sudden and forceful.
Bodily collisions with great force can happen with either other players or with equipments such as doorways, playing surface, walls, balls and benches. Loss of teeth is rare but still a risk. Minor cuts and abrasions also occur all too frequently.
Basketball safety tips
Basketball injuries can be controlled by being aware of and implementing the following suggestions.
Be prepared and alert
Check yourself thoroughly for physical fitness. Maintain the proper weight for your size. This will reduce injuries involving jumping and landing on your weight. Get sufficient sleep and maintain a healthy diet. Warm up and stretch before playing and also cool down and stretch after playing.
Wear the right gear
Wear the right protective gear such as a mouthguard and proper court shoes. If you are more prone to injuries, it is best to consult a doctor or physiotherapist about appropriate bracing or protective gear.
Make sure the environment is safe
Maintain a clean playing area. Remove hazards such as backpacks, stones, jackets, drinks and food off the court to avoid slipping. Make sure that the backboards, their supports and walls are padded. Ensure that baskets and boundary lines are not too close to walls and fixtures.
Understand yourself and basketball
Basketball safety tips also include knowing your fitness level and limits. It is also important that everyone knows the rules and follows them. It is not fair to play in a situation where pushing, shoving and other harmful acts are allowed.
It is also essential that the right techniques are used for passing, jumping, landing and shooting. The proper and safe use of equipment should also be known to everyone. Players should drink plenty of water before, during and after play and not play in extreme heat or wet conditions.
Basketball safety tips for fun
Basketball is a contact sport and injuries can happen. However, it is essential to keep it fun so that there is no high pressure or stress. You must remember to stop playing if you are in pain or get hurt or feel too tired. Most of the injuries respond well to treatment if treated at the early stages. Thus, the best way is to seek medical attention and rest at the first sign of injury.