Baseball & Softball Safety for Children
Sharon Parmet, MS, Writer; Cassio Lynm, MA, Illustrator; Richard M. Glass, MD, Editor
Preventing Injuries
Many softball and baseball injuries can be prevented by following a few simple tips:
- Before your child begins participating in softball or baseball, take him or her to a doctor for a physical examination to determine if your child has any special injury risks.
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Be sure your child wears protective gear while playing.
- Helmets should be worn while batting, waiting to bat, and when running bases and should have eye protectors (either safety goggles or a face mask).
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Catchers should wear a face and throat guard and use a special catcher’s mitt, chest protector, shin guards, and athletic cup (boys).
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If your child is a pitcher, make sure to talk to the coach about excessive pitching.
- Throwing the ball repeatedly can cause arm, elbow, and shoulder problems, and your child should stop if he or she feels discomfort.
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Before playing, your child should do some stretching and warming up to prevent muscle pulls and strains.
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Make sure your child knows to stop playing and ask for help if he or she experiences any pain.
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Because many injuries occur while players are sliding into bases, breakaway bases should be used. These soft bases attach to the ground with snaps and are dislodged when a player slides into them, preventing injury.
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Use of reduced—impact balls is associated with a reduced risk of injury in youth baseball and softball.
Source: Journal Of the American Medical Association