Football season is here — what a great time of year! As an athlete that’s playing football, you know first and foremost that this is a contact-heavy sport and can lead to injuries if you don’t take care of yourself. If you’re going to be playing this season, it’s crucial that you’re aware of the ways that you can prioritize your health and do your best to avoid injuries. In our blog post today, we’ll touch on a few of the things that you should make sure you’re doing on a regular basis to keep you healthy and well this season.
Warm Up & Cool Down
While the game is what people are always focused on, warming up and cooling down before and after practice is something that all athletes need to be consistent with. All sports require you to push your muscles to the next level of progress.
The process of building muscles starts with your muscles tearing, building and then healing so that they can become stronger in the end. The tears that your muscles experience during exercise will be lessened when you warm your muscles up before going to work out, and the healing process will speed up by making sure that you stretch your muscles out after the workout. Skipping these two pieces of the workout is one of the fastest ways to get yourself injured.
Stay Hydrated
As we just mentioned, giving your muscles what they need to recover is crucial to avoiding an injury. As an athlete, stretching and spending the necessary time for your body to heal correctly is vital, but it’s not the only thing that plays a part in your muscle recovery. Hydration is another thing that you need to keep your muscles healthy. From water to drinks that are loaded with electrolytes, making an effort to stay hydrated before, during, and after your practice and games is a great way to reduce the chances of any injuries.
Take Time to Recover
Minor injuries are going to be a big part of playing any and all sports, but they are especially common in football. When you make the choice to continue playing while you’re injured, you are only going to push your body to potentially make the injury worse. If you experience an injury while you’re playing, one of the best things that you can do for your body is to let it heal. It may be tough having to sit out of practice and games for a while, but that’s much better than having to give up the sport as a whole because you have injuries that make it impossible for you to play.
Wear Proper Equipment
As a football player, there are specific pieces of equipment that you should be wearing to practice and the games. This is one thing that you shouldn’t skimp on or slack with. High-quality gear is going to keep you safe at all points of your activities and ensure that your body is able to sustain the impact of other players. Taking care of your equipment and making sure that you have it when you’re about to play, and that you have it on right, is going to be a responsibility that you shouldn’t take lightly as a player.
Pay Attention to Form
With every piece of athletic activity that you do, form is going to play a significant part. This is true for all exercises, techniques, and plays. For example, if there’s a strength and conditioning exercise that you’re completing, proper form is not only going to ensure that you’re working the right part of your body, but it keeps you from getting injured. If your coach or trainer is suggesting that you tweak your form, trust that it’s so that you can maximize your abilities as an athlete and that they have your best interest in mind. Work hard on your form so that you are able to play your absolute best.
Work With Athlete2Athlete
Consistent training is something that plays a big part in the well being of an athlete. Athlete2Athlete is determined to provide athletes with the tools that they need to maximize their potential. We have worked with a variety of athletes and are eager to play a part in your athletic career. Contact us today to learn more about the speed drills for football, strength and conditioning workouts, and various other training programs that we offer.