In sports, protection is key. Learn how Implay’s sports protection gear is keeping young athletes safe and confident while they build their skills, develop their talents, and discover their sporting hobbies.
From lively team sports to artistic gymnastics, physical activity – in any format – can be hugely beneficial to children’s growth, development, and mental health. There are so many benefits that come from sport, and we all want to give children every opportunity to participate in the activities they enjoy.
The benefits – and risks – of childhood sports
There’s an almost never-ending list of benefits that can be experienced from participating in sports as a child. Sports can help kids make new friends from all walks of life, keep them fit and healthy, reduce the risk of disease, gain confidence in themselves, and enjoy a stronger sense of self. Sports can take children all over the country – and even the world – as they strive to become their very best.
And this is something that can stay with young children as they progress through their teenage years and into adulthood, creating lifelong hobbies – and communities – that help them thrive in the world.
Yet each sport brings with it an inherent risk of injury.
Up to 11% of UK school children are injured each year while playing sports. And of all sports-related visits to A&E departments, children and adolescents make up nearly 50% of injured patients.
Sports activities can support the development of coordination, dexterity and teamwork, as well as social and physical skills. But it’s clear from these statistics that more needs to be done to protect little ones while they’re playing sports. From parents and teachers to coaches and facility owners, we all have a duty of care in sport; a responsibility to ensure sporting safety, for everyone.
And that’s where we can help.
If you’ve been following our blog, you may remember that we recently shared advice on how to choose the right safety pads for your sports facility. Now, in this next chapter of our sports safety series, we want to take a closer look at how we’re helping to keep your young superstars – and tomorrow’s sporting heroes – safe, secure, and confident as they push the boundaries of possibility.
So… just how do we do it?
Well, here at Implay, we take a two-pronged approach to young athlete safety. First, we focus on basic safety, offering a range of safety-focused solutions designed to proactively prevent accidents from occurring. Secondly, we offer soft play solutions that empower children to take risks and truly see what their bodies are physically capable of achieving, while at the same time giving them the confidence that they’re secure.
Let’s explore these two sides to Implay athlete safety…
- Safety solutions
Our safety solutions are, as the name suggests, focused on athlete safety. Their primary purpose is to prevent injury from occurring while sports are being carried out. As many sports take place indoors, there are of course numerous risks that exist for young athletes within the indoor arena; hard flooring, structural support pillars, walls, and more. Implay safety solutions – including gymnastics floor mats, safety padding, and wall-mounted foam – are intended to cushion the impact should an accident happen. This could be a fall from some equipment, or a high-speed collision with a structural object.
- Soft sporting equipment
Our soft sporting equipment, while still heavily rooted in safety, is more about empowering young athletes to develop their skills in safe ways. These solutions are designed to enable youngsters to try different sports and attempt new moves with confidence, without worrying about getting hurt in the process. The Implay range includes equipment such as miniature gymnastics beams and climbing structures, manufactured from the same soft, durable foam as our play shapes. This allows children to push themselves that little bit further, while maintaining a sense of safety and security.
Make sports safety a priority
Sports-related injuries in children are common. But the solution isn’t to limit sporting opportunities, or to take away a child’s ability to participate in physical activity. Instead, we simply need to explore ways to make sports safer, and uncover smart methods for safeguarding our little athletes and sports stars.
Implay makes this easy.
We offer a range of high-quality sports protection gear designed to maximise safety, while also maximising fun, opportunity, and adventure. Browse our collection, and find what’s right for you.
