Written by our contributor Shellie Zavala
With soccer season just beginning and games quickly approaching, here are a few things to keep in mind as the season gets started!
• It is very important to remember that the kids are out there to have fun and play soccer. They will win games and they will lose games. So,the best thing that we as parents can do is give them unconditional encouragement and love! And, feel free to pass that onto the other players as well!
• Keep young althetes strong and fit with healthy and nutritious half-time and post-game snacks. A good idea for a half-time snack is grapes, orange slices, bananas, and apples slices (you can put orange juice on them to prevent them from turning brown). Our muscles need to heal after a hard game and this is a good reason to provide our little althetes with a low-fat post-game snack like granola bars or trail mix.
• Remember to provide them with plenty of fluids! Water or Gatorade are two good choices!
• A squirt bottle or cold wash cloths are always great to have on hot days!
• Make sure to put sunscreen on your kids. And don't forget that parents need sunscreen too!
• Keep a survival bin in your car with items that you may need throughout the season. If you tend to live out of your car during soccer as I do, it is a good idea to keep a little plastic bin in the car with essential items. For instance, a light blanket, an umbrella, sunscreen, water, extra snacks, and anything else you might need throughout the season!
• If you have small kiddies that tag along during practices and games, make sure to bring a snack and some toys to entertain them with. Don't let them run on the field during the practice or game. They can get trampled over by the soccer players.And just remember that the most important thing is that our kids are having fun and being safe! Enjoy your upcoming season of soccer!
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