Sports Injuries Essays

Submitted By JustineD123
Words: 1780
Pages: 8

Sports Injuries
Know how common sports injuries can be prevented by the correct identification of risk factors.

P1 – Describe extrinsic and intrinsic risk factors in relation to sports injuries.
P2 – Describe preventative measures that can be taken in order to prevent sports injuries occurring.
Extrinsic
Coaching- Bad coaching is one of the main causes for injury in sport. If the coach is unqualified in the specific sport they will not have enough knowledge to know how to coach the athlete in ways in which they can prevent injury from occurring. If the coach is not giving good feedback or noticing faults in the athletes technique this may cause the athlete to learn bad habits which they will continue to do in a match situation. The coach may be inexperienced in working with athletes and will not know their abilities, strengths and weaknesses. They will not know how far they can push the athlete and may over train them. If the coach is not enthusiastic and encouraging the athlete may not listen to instructions and may do the exercises wrong. All of these factors will result in the athlete getting injured.
Preventative Measures- To prevent injury from occurring the coach must have qualifications. For example, in hockey a coach is able to achieve up to a level 4 UKCC. A coach with this qualification will have a lot of experience and is able to coach a higher standard hockey team. The coach will have a lot of knowledge on the sport and will know exactly how to train the athletes to help improve their weaknesses and make their strengths even greater. When getting a coach for a team they will ensure that they will be enthusiastic and have good communication skills. Being able to relate to the athletes will encourage them to listen and take in exactly what the coach is saying. All of these factors will result in the prevention of injury.
Environmental Factors- The environment plays a big role in injury in sport. Firstly, the weather. When participating in sport if the weather is too warm there is a big risk of heatstroke or dehydration. If the weather is too cold there is a possibility of getting hypothermia. Other than the temperature, the weather also causes problems. For example, if it has been raining the day of a football match the pitch will be very dangerous as it will be quite slippery and an athlete may fall. It will be harder for the athlete to control the ball and this may cause them to stretch or pull a muscle. The surface of the pitch will also control how many injuries there are. If the pitch is frozen and an athlete goes in for a tackle they may fall and not only could they cut themselves but they may cause others around them to fall too.
Preventative Measures- To prevent these injuries occurring many precautions can be taken. For example, on a hot day the athlete must always drink plenty of water, this will prevent dehydration from happening and will keep the athlete refreshed and alert throughout the whole match or training session. On a cold day the athlete will wear extra clothing and try and stay moving at all times this will keep their muscles warm and prevent them from getting stiff and sore. Surface conditions are always taken into consideration before anyone enters the pitch. If the pitch is unsuitable then the athletes will not be allowed to play. The pitch will be checked to make sure it is clean and safe and will be checked for any damages and then the decision is made.
Equipment and clothing- When participating in sport, equipment and clothing are very important. Athletes are at risk of injuries at all times. For example, the possibility of getting hit with a hockey ball during a match or training is quite high therefore equipment is provided to reduce the chances of injury. The protective clothing is made to prevent injury and if it is not worn some players may be unable to participate.
Preventative Measures- There are many ways in which these injuries can be prevented. Firstly safety equipment