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Playing a sport is an excellent way to stay fit and healthy and socialize. 99% of players find they love the community as much as they enjoy the thrill of playing. Everyone will tell you about the positive sides of joining a club, and they should because the pros outweigh the cons.

However, it isn’t one-sided. Sports aren’t all created equal and some are more dangerous than others. Some are inherently risky right off the bat. Understanding the hazards before going out to play is essential to avoid unnecessary injuries.

With that in mind, here are the things to factor in before taking the field.

You Are Your Own Enemy

It’s not the people on the other team that do the most damage; it’s you. Amateurs like to think it’s a hobby so there is no need to take it too seriously. Forget about the pre-match routine as it’s over-the-top and for professionals. Saturday and Sunday league players can roll up and kick a ball or small a baseball without any preparation. The fact that you’re not a finely tuned machine means you need to warm-up more than anyone else. Injuries happen when the muscles aren’t warm and elastic enough for competition, so take twenty minutes at the start to train.

Injuries Impact Life Off The Field

You’re playing basketball and their point guard gets too rough. Before you know it, a bone is broken and you’re in agony. In this situation, the injury isn’t going to heal miraculously so other areas of your life will be affected. Think about work and how tricky it will be to type with one hand. A sports insurance policy should cover any serious accidents on the pitch, so don’t play without any cover. A personal injury lawyer can help secure compensation for an unnecessary injury. Although it sounds harsh, their negligence might result in a loss of earnings and you shouldn’t have to struggle because of their mistake.

It’s Mental As Well As Physical

A hobby can be addictive at first but it does get boring after a while. If there isn’t a break, the grind of playing again and again becomes monotonous. “So what?” most people think; it isn’t a massive problem. It is if the boredom causes you to stop working out altogether. Lots of people only get exercise through a sport, and if that ends, their health will suffer. Take a break every now and again so that the love for the game flourishes for a long time.

There’s A Balance

On the flip side, players shouldn’t treat the game with love and ignore their loved ones. Usually, it’s the excitement of a new part of your life which causes you to neglect the most important people. No one wants you to choose between the two, so it’s essential to find a perfect balance. If playing takes up a whole weekend, you might want to allocate one day for sport and the other for bonding.

Most spouses and other halves won’t like spending their weekend alone.