It’s time for school to start again (summer vacation getting shorter?) and that means the start of sports programs for your kids. The warm summer weather that we are still “enjoying” and the increasingly competitive climate in children’s sports may raise some concerns about the safety of those programs. Here are some guidelines to follow when evaluating your child’s athletic adventures.

It seems that in recent years we have seen an increase in the number of children dying during, or shortly after, games or sports practices. In most cases, the cause of death is a heart defect or severe dehydration. So what can you, the parent, do to protect your child while he’s participating in “2-day” soccer practices or running laps on a hot track? Go to the doctor, hydrate and check for injuries.

A good sports program should require a “physical” and a medical clearance form signed by a doctor. Before the checkup, the doctor should be informed that the child will be participating in sports so that she can look for and identify pre-existing conditions, such as asthma and other lung disorders, and any heart conditions. If your sports program doesn’t require a physical, get one anyway just to be sure. The increased ozone and pollution levels that come with the summer heat also deserve close attention, as they can exacerbate physical conditions that could otherwise be easily controlled. Get the doctor’s approval before allowing your child to start a sports program, and heed warnings to stay indoors on days with orange and red pollution levels.

Always make sure your child is well hydrated. It is important that he is well hydrated before arriving at practice or the game and it is important that he continue to hydrate. It’s understandable that you won’t be able to attend all team practices to monitor your child’s water intake, so make sure your child is aware of the importance of drinking water. Make sure the coaches also understand the importance of hydration. The general rule of thumb for drinking before, during and after exercise is to stop for fluids every 15-20 minutes. Water is a great option to hydrate your kids, but if they don’t like the taste (or don’t like it), find a sports drink or watered-down juice to keep them drinking. If your kids are active for more than an hour at a time, sports drinks are a better choice because of the calories (energy) they provide and the electrolytes they help replace. Water has zero calories, which means zero energy. Be sure to stay away from carbonated drinks as they only give you stomach aches.

Injuries are another problem to consider. Again, if you can’t make it to practices/games, you may not know that her daughter sprained her ankle or her son fell on her wrist. It’s a good idea to ask for specific details about how the practice went and give your child a good visual look to make sure he isn’t limping or favoring one arm over the other. Any injury that occurs at a young age and is not treated will likely affect your child for many years. Make sure the coach is aware of injuries, and doubly make sure he doesn’t allow your child to play while injured. We all loved watching Keri Strug nail that last jump during the 1996 Olympics with a sprained ankle, but it was definitely a bad idea. She’s very lucky if she doesn’t continue to struggle with that ankle today. Why risk a lifetime of pain and restrictions to win, even a gold medal?

Get too involved in your children’s sports programs. Go to practices, go to games, talk to your kids, your coaches, and your doctor all season long, and the next, and the next. Focus on kids getting good exercise, having fun, and honing their athletic skills. And do it all in a safe environment.