Coconut Creek Little League
	Safety Manual 2005 Play Hard - Play Safe League ID Number: 309-10-25
Stretching & Conditioning

Conditioning and stretching improve general control of muscle movement and coordination, thus playing a vital role in accident prevention.  Conditioning develops strength and stamina, which minimizes ones vulnerability to accidents.  Stretching increases flexibility within various muscle groups, which prevents tearing from overexertion.

Suggestions for Conditioning

·    Each calisthenics should be done in repetitions of at least 10.
·    Don’t ask the child to condition beyond their capabilities.
·    synchronize movements.
·    vary upper body with lower body conditioning.
·    keep the pace up for a good cardio-vascular workout.

Suggestions for Stretching 

·    Stretching should never be done forcefully.  Rather it should be done in a gradual manner to encourage looseness and flexibility.  You should feel the stretch, but it should not hurt.
·    Do not bounce while stretching.  Bouncing tears, rather than stretches, the muscle.
·    Don’t ask the child to stretch beyond their capabilities.
·    Hold a stretch for at least 10 seconds.

·    Concentrate stretching on those muscles exerted during baseball, specifically the neck, back, arms, thighs, legs and calves.

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