Which practice is essential for preventing spread of infections in sports settings?

Proper hygiene and sanitation play a crucial role in preventing the spread of infections in sports settings. Maintaining cleanliness helps eliminate pathogens that can be transmitted from one individual to another through shared equipment, surfaces, or personal items. This includes practices such as regularly cleaning and disinfecting sports equipment, ensuring athletes have access to handwashing facilities, and promoting personal hygiene routines like showering after practice or games.

Focusing solely on rest days, reducing practice hours, or avoiding physical contact may address certain aspects of athlete health and performance, but these measures do not directly prevent the transmission of infections. Hygiene and sanitation are proactive strategies that create a safer environment for athletes, significantly reducing the risk of outbreaks and ensuring that participants can engage in their activities with less concern about illness.