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1 IN 3 PARENTS WORRY ABOUT CHILDREN SUSTAINING INJURIES DURING SPORTS.
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56% OF PARENTS SUPPORT RULE CHANGES THAT AIM TO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF INJURY.
Podium Analytics – the UK’s leading charity for reducing injury in sport – is today releasing new research which reveals a huge majority of parents (78%) believe it should be compulsory for schools and sports clubs to keep a record of all sports injuries that happen during training and matches.
Current RIDDOR guidance from the Health and Safety Executive for UK schools states that if an accident that results in an injury arises because of the normal rough and tumble of a game, the accident and resulting injury would not be reportable, however parents want to see this changed.
This comes as the research from Podium Analytics reveals that 1 in 3 parents worry about their children sustaining injuries during sports, and over half (56%) support rule changes that aim to reduce the incidence of injury. When it comes to parents’ support for rules that specifically aim to reduce the incidence of concussion, this rises to 67% in the game of rugby and 61% in football.
The charity, which is committed to helping people play more sport and suffer less injury, is offering free access for PE teachers and sports clubs to its digital platform SportSmart, to help prevent and manage injuries and get people back to playing the sport they love. Included in the ecosystem is a head injury management tool which helps teachers and coaches monitor a concussion injury and manage a player’s safe return to play.
Andy Hunt, CEO at Podium Analytics, said: “We know most parents hugely value the sports that their children play in schools or in their local clubs, but injury can be a worry for many of them. Our research clearly shows that parents want to see more being done to ensure their children are properly looked after in the event of an injury so that they can get back to playing the sport they love.”
Former professional tennis player and Podium Analytics Ambassador Tim Henman said: “As a former professional athlete, I know the devastating impact an injury can have – but for me, I had a team of professionals helping me get back to fitness after an injury. Now as a parent, I see the world of sport and injury through a completely different lens. What is known at elite level isn’t known at grassroots, but simple changes such as better reporting of injuries could play a big role in helping young people recover from injuries and get back to playing sport.”
Podium Analytics offers PE teachers and sports clubs free access to its digital ecosystem SportSmart, which provides tools, educational information and insights to prevent, monitor and manage injury.