PRESEASON CONDITIONING: 6 STEPS TO HELP YOUR YOUNG ATHLETE BE READY FOR SCHOOL SPORTS STORY Marjie Ducey
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chool starts in a few weeks and that means most sports activities, too. There are all kinds of benefits to playing a sport or doing another extracurricular activity at school. It’s a great way to meet other students and be a part of something bigger than one's self. If your child is attending a new school or wants to play a sport for the first time, contact the athletic department before school starts. There are forms to fill out and other steps to tackle before fall sports begin. But making a team can be as much about attitude as it is about physical preparedness, says Stephen Eubanks, supervisor of athletics for the Omaha Public Schools. “Preparation, experience, determination, skill and hard work help all students achieve their goals.’ He offers these tips if you have a child who hopes to make a team this fall.
GET MOVING. It will be rough going for any student who shows up for the first day of practice out of shape. “Students who are in good physical condition may have an advantage over those students
who are not in shape,’’ Eubanks says. Still, he says, it’s never too late to get involved.
DO THE WORKOUTS . Most if not all high schools provide general conditioning/weight training/open gym opportunities for potential student-athletes during the summer months. Club and YMCA programs are a good way for younger athletes to play during the summer. COMPLETE THE FORMS. Each school's athletic department requires consent forms for practices and tryouts. Athletes must provide proof they’ve undergone a preseason physical screening exam. OPS parents must also sign a release form for their child to participate and a head injury-concussion acknowledgment form. “The athletic forms ensure that all student-athletes have passed a physical examination, have health insurance and understand the potential risks associated with participation in athletics,’’ Eubanks says.
GET A PHYSICAL. Many area physicians work with OPS high schools to provide athletic
physical exams for studentathletes, Eubanks says. Contact the athletic department for more information. “We also encourage many of our families to schedule appointments for sport physicals at our SchoolBased Health Centers located at Belvedere Elementary, Indian Hill Elementary, Kellom Elementary, Liberty Elementary, Spring Lake Elementary, King Science Magnet Middle, Bryan High and Northwest High.
START WITH THE RIGHT GEAR. Comfortable socks and footwear are essential; blisters and sore feet can halt an athlete's progress. It is also important to eat healthy, stay hydrated (bring a water bottle) and get lots of rest between practices. A duffel bag with dry clothes (shirt/ shorts/socks) and a few healthy snacks can come in handy.
REMEMBER: The coach makes the call. Playing time and selection of teams are the responsibilities of the coaches. OPS Athletics provides general guidelines and best practices for team selection and individual playing time. However, it is ultimately a coach's decision.
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