Those of us who have been spinning for any extended amount of time have accumulated our fair share of injuries. All things considered, it shouldn’t be surprising. However, injuries can also cause problems during the competitive season (as well as throughout your life), so it’s best to prevent those that you can.
Stay Alert
Having situational awareness is one of the keys to minimizing accidents. Keeping track of who and what is around you protects you from crashing into props, equipment, and teammates (or having a teammate crash into you). Most of the more ridiculous and easily avoidable injuries can in fact be prevented by being more aware of your surroundings.
Assess Readiness
Most (if not all) of us love learning new skills. After all, what’s cooler than finally nailing that crazy toss that looked impossible the first time you saw it? When you try something new, make sure to pay attention to how you’re manipulating your equipment and your body. If you notice that you’re having a particularly difficult time with something, take a look at whether or not you’ve developed the necessary muscles through your training.
Master Fundamentals
Training is a key element in injury prevention. It not only builds the strength and flexibility required to spin, but it also reinforces the correct form and execution of your skills.
While working through fundamentals on repeat can feel boring, building correct muscle memory will improve your performance and also help you learn and retain choreography more quickly. Stay engaged throughout the training process, so you learn to do things the right way.
Some aspects that may seem unimportant are actually crucial steps in preventing injuries that can affect your life—long after you stop spinning.
If you make an effort to stay present and aware while spinning and make sure to properly train and apply that training, you can avoid some of the short- and long-term injuries that are common in the color guard world.
Learn numerous tips on keeping in shape in our Fitness to the Max column.
