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Health & Fitness

Strong4Life: Final Four Fever: Let's Catch It!

While I enjoy watching the tournament as both a fan and sports trainer, what I love about March Madness is the opportunity it provides to inspire kids to get moving.

This week's guest blogger is Lindsey Law, M.Ed, ATC
Sports Medicine Supervisor- Athletic Training 
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

Spring is in the air and you know what that means—March Madness. With the NCAA tournament in Atlanta this year, Final Four fever is more contagious than ever! 

While I enjoy watching the tournament as both a fan and sports trainer for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, what I really love about March Madness is the opportunity it provides to inspire kids to get moving.

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Thanks to their impressive athleticism and on-the-court heroics, many of these college ballers are celebrities to our kids. This makes The Final Four a great teachable moment, as none of these college athletes would have made it to the Sweet Sixteen if they didn't work hard for it by staying healthy and active. When they were kids they got up, got out and got sweaty during endless pick-up games, organized/independent practice and competitions.  

Now is the perfect time to encourage your little basketball fan to take part in their own fun “tournament” with their friends or even with the family. This doesn't have to be formal; it only has to be fun.

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Basketball is a great way for kids of all ages to get in some physical activity. It gets your heart revving and your muscles flexing. From the b-ball courts in neighborhood parks and/or town rec-center to portable/height-adjustable baskets, the sport is exciting, readily available and more affordable than ever. As a matter of fact, many YMCAs, local clubs and churches often offer free leagues.

Be a basketball role model by challenging your kids to a high-energy version of Around the World: 

  1. Each player gets a ball and shoots from the right corner of the court.
  2. Taking two quick steps left shoot again and continue around the circle without stopping until you make seven baskets.
  3. For every basket missed, head back to the first position and start over.
  4. The first to seven wins!

For first time players, here are a couple of quick tips to prevent injury (I can't help it; I'm a trainer!): warm up with a proper warm up to get the heart rate up (which, depending on your fitness level could include a light/moderate jog around the court five times, jumping jacks and arm swings), practice your landing technique (you want to come down from a jump with your feet apart and knees bent to absorb the shock and protect your joints). 

So, are you ready to shoot some hoops? See you on the court! 

Strong4Life is a movement created by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta to address the childhood obesity medical crisis that is threatening nearly one million kids in Georgia. For information about Strong4Life visit our websiteFacebookTwitterYouTube, and Strong4Life Blog.

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