Did you know having your child cross-train in sports can be a huge benefit to them? Not only does it make them more well rounded, but it reduces their risk of injury and burn out. The National Athletic Trainers’ Association has some recommendations to help you get started.
Cross training is when an athlete participates in sports and/or activities that are not traditional to their primary sport. Cross training helps athletes develop different skill sets, muscles and movement patterns, which leads to a more well-rounded and versatile athlete. Cross training also reduces the chance of injury and burnout.
How do you cross train?
While this is not a comprehensive list, it provides you with some examples of how athletes can add a complementary activity to their routine and the types of benefits that come from it. Complementary sports should provide a different training surface – such as a turf field in one sport and hardwood court in another. This helps an athlete’s body to adapt and adjust to the new demands being placed on their body. Sports that mirror each other – for example throwing (baseball) and swinging (tennis) or require a lot of running (soccer and basketball) – should be played in different seasons to avoid overuse injuries.
Learn more about cross training!
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