Sports and Physical Wellness

In this lesson, you will Learn About…

The advantages of both individual and team

sports.

How to avoid sports injuries.

How eating habits can affect the level of

performance.

Why it is harmful to take drugs to improve

sports performance.

BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATING IN SPORTS

Note: This power point presentation was created by

McGraw Glencoe Health company. It was

downloaded from their free educator’s website. All

notes and information are from the “Teen Health” text

book series

Sports and Physical Wellness

The Vocabulary terms in this lesson are:

Individual sports.

Team sports.

Dehydration.

Conditioning.

Overtraining.

Anabolic steroids.

Sports for Health

Starting and following a well thought-out program is a good way to achieve fitness. One way to remain fit is by playing sports.

Sports for Health (cont’d.)

Ask yourself the following questions before you choose a sport:

What do you like about sports? Do you like the excitement of competing

against another person or team? Do you enjoy mastering a new skill? Do you enjoy competing at all?

Individual and Team Sports

Individual sports are physical activities you can take part in by yourself or with another person, without being part of a team. In individual sports:

You can set your own schedule. You can determine your own level of

commitment. You don’t have to be compared to anyone else.

Individual and Team Sports (cont’d.)

Team sports are organized physical activities with specific rules, played by opposing groups of people. In team sports:

You have the companionship and encouragement of teammates and coaches.

Playing against another team may push you to excel.

Attending regularly scheduled practices can help you become more responsible.

Preventing Injuries

To avoid sports-related injuries:

See a doctor for a physical exam before participating in a sport.

Warm up, stretch adequately, and cool down. Learn the proper techniques for your sport. Use the correct safety and protective

equipment properly. Observe safety rules during sports and other

physical activities. Report any injury to your coach or teacher and

to your parents. Don’t return to the sport until a health care

professional says that you are well enough to play.

Protective Equipment

A padded chest protector keeps the torso from being injured.

A face mask protects the face from being hit by a ball or puck.

A throat guard protects the throat.

A helmet or other protective headgear protects the head.

A mouth guard protects the teeth and jaw.

Knee pads and elbow pads protect joints.

An athletic cup protects the male groin area.

Proper athletic footwear protects the feet and ankles.

Shin guards protect the legs.

Wrist guards protect the hands and wrists.

Sports Nutrition

If you play a sport, you will need to keep your body supplied with additional energy.

To provide additional energy, you may require some changes in the following:

What you eat. When you eat.

What to Eat

When you play a sport, you may need more food to provide your body with the fuel it requires.

If you play a more vigorous sport for a longer period of time, you may need to eat more to give you energy.

What to Eat (cont’d.)

Choose a variety of foods from the five major food groups every day to give your body what it needs to perform at its best.

Make sure you drink enough water when you play a sport. If you don’t replace the water you lose by sweating, dehydration can occur.

When to Eat

When you first take up a sport, consider:

How much energy you will need. When you will need it. How your sport will affect your digestion.

Also make sure that you always have water available and drink it all day long.

When to Eat (cont’d.)

Eat a light snack one to two hours before a sporting event.

Drink plenty of fluids before a game.

Continue to drink water during the game.

Refuel your body with a hearty, balanced meal after the game.

Shaping Up Safely

If you want to play a sport regularly, you’ll need to get into shape for it.

You can get into shape for your sport with regular conditioning and good nutrition.

Shaping Up Safely (cont’d.)

Overtraining, or exercising too hard or too often, without enough rest in between sessions, can be harmful.

To avoid overtraining:

Take a day off from exercise every week. Alternate intense workout days with light

ones. Every two months, reduce your exercise

frequency, intensity, and time for a week.