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Flag/Touch Football
Some people think touch and flag football are safe
sports because pads and helmets are not normally re-
quired. However, what usually starts as a friendly game
often turns into a rough game of tackle. The shoulder
block is the only block permitted in touch and flag foot-
ball. It is done between the waist and shoulder with both
feet contacting the ground at the moment of contact.
To prevent collisions, teams should leave a fumbled
football lying on the ground. Neither team should be
allowed to advance the football; it should belong to the
team that last had possession.
When playing football, wear a mouthpiece to
protect your teeth and your tongue. Don’t wear chains,
rings, and metal wrist bands. If you wear glasses, secure
them and make sure the lenses are shatter-proof.
Golf
When playing golf, you should wear socks and
well-fitted shoes to prevent blisters caused by long
periods of walking and turning. When other players are
hitting, watch their shots to avoid being hit by a ball or
club. You should not hit your ball until the players ahead
of you are well out of range. To keep from damaging
your skin from the sun’s rays, you may want to wear a
protective cap and sun screen.
Avoid the golf course during electrical storms and
severe weather. Golf clubs make excellent electricity
conductors. If you get caught on the course, keep away
from isolated trees, wire fences, hilltops, small sheds,
and shelters in exposed areas. Try to reach thick timber
or a depression in the ground or get near a steep cliff.
If caught in an electrical storm, do not delay; seek shelter.
Squash/Handball/Racquetball
Most injuries from racquet sports occur when
players do not use the proper eye protection. These
injuries include hemorrhaging of the eye area, cuts, and
corneal abrasions. A racquetball travels about 80 miles
per hour when hit. Goggles without lenses offer little
protection. A small ball, like the one you use in
racquetball or squash, compresses when you hit it and
can penetrate open frames. How can you protect your
eyes? Learning how to duck faster isn’t the answer.
Wearing the proper eye protection while playing
racquetball is not only safe, it is mandatory. Wear
impact-resistant eyewear with either molded poly-
carbonate wraparound protectors or lenses mounted in
sturdy frames. This requirement applies to all
participants (military, family members, civilians, and
guests) at all times. The people that issue Navy
recreational equipment should provide eye protection
with racquetball rackets. In addition, wear a mouthpiece
to protect your teeth and tongue.
Skateboarding
Skateboarding is a sport rapidly growing in
popularity. Unfortunately, as its popularity increases, so
do mishaps and injuries. Mishaps frequently occur when
skateboarders lack balance and body control or haven’t
had enough practice. Several conditions contribute to
skateboard mishaps and injuries: lack of protective
equipment, poor board maintenance, and uneven riding
surfaces. Fractures are the most common type of injuries
for skateboarders. Some deaths have been reported,
mostly from people falling off boards or colliding with
cars.
When skateboarding, wear protective equipment,
such as slip-resistant shoes, helmets, and specially
designed padding. This equipment may not fully protect
skateboardcrs from fractures, but it can reduce the
number and severity of cuts and scrapes. Wrist braces
and special skateboarding gloves also help absorb the
impact of a Fall. With protective equipment, you must
look for comfort, design, and function. The equipment
should not interfere with your movement, vision, or
hearing.
Roller Skating and In-Line Skating
Roller skating is an old sport in which a renewed
interest has developed. In-line skating is a relatively new
and exciting sport. The same injuries and mishaps we
talked about earlier on skateboarding apply here. The
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