If Your Teen Has Back Pain That Won't Go Away, See A Doctor!

Submitted by Gretchen Rose on Wed, 04/30/2014 - 18:13. | comments

As we head into the last month of the school year (at least for some of us), parents start asking each other, "Hey, what is your kid doing this summer? ("Translation for non-Texans: "What sports is your child playing this summer?")

As lots of sports parents know, summer does not always mean fun and hanging out by the swimming pool anymore. In this deeply sports-obsessed state, there is no off-season. Ever! Middle school football running back breaking tackle

When her 13-year-old son came home each day from track practice complaining of back pain, a Texas mom thought the pain wasn't anything to worry about. Turns out the pain was a red flag about a serious injury.

Douglas E. Abrams, J.D.

Youth Sports Heroes of the Month: Alex Norwood (Conyers, Ga.) and Schuyler LaRue (Maryville, Tenn.)

Submitted by Douglas E. Abrams, J.D. on Wed, 04/30/2014 - 14:13. | comments

Sixteen-year-old Atlanta-area first baseman Alex Norwood hit a dramatic grand slam in a winning cause on March 21, but his truly game-changing hit was none that never appeared on the scoreboard.

In a junior varsity game at Newtown High, the Rockdale County High junior came through in the clutch in a way that mattered even more when, between the second and third innings, home plate umpire Woody Reagin suffered a massive heart attack and collapsed. Alex Norwood and coach Jerrid Harris

This month's Youth Sports Heroes honors two high school students - one a wrestler, one a baseball player - who were in the right place at the right time to save the lives of an umpire and fan who, but for their training and quick thinking, might have died.

National Youth Sports Safety Month

Katherine Starr: Safe4Athletes' Founder Fighting To Keep Kids Safe From Sexual Abuse, Harassment, and Bullying

Submitted by National Youth Sports Safety Month on Tue, 04/29/2014 - 16:24. | comments

In recognition of April as National Youth Sports Safety Month, MomsTeam asked our friends in the medical, health, fitness, nutrition and athletic training communities to write blogs answering two questions: first, how or why did they get into their field, and second, how have they made a difference in the life of a youth athlete in the past year.

Today, as the month draws to a close, we hear from Katherine Starr, a former two-time Olympic swimmer and founder of Safe4Athletes, an advocacy and educational non-profit fighting to keep athletes safe from sexual abuse, harassment and bullying.

A former two-time Olympic swimmer talks about why she founded Safe4Athletes, an advocacy and educational non-profit fighting to keep athletes safe from sexual abuse, harassment and bullying.

National Youth Sports Safety Month

Toben Nelson: Raising Awareness About Link Between Sports Participation And Risk of Heavy Drinking

Submitted by National Youth Sports Safety Month on Thu, 04/24/2014 - 18:00. | comments

In recognition of April as National Youth Sports Safety Month, MomsTeam is again asking our friends in the medical, health, fitness, nutrition and athletic training communities to write blogs answering two questions: first, how or why did they get into their field, and second, how have they made a difference in the life of a youth athlete in the past year.

Today, we hear from Toben Nelson, Associate Professor in the School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology & Community Health at the University of Minnesota.

By Toben F. Nelson, ScD

A professor of public health discusses the link between athletics and underage drinking and the role parents can play in protecting their children from the problems associated with excessive drinking by teen athletes.

National Youth Sports Safety Month

Deb Bowen: "Aha" Moment After Son's Injury Inspired Career Teaching Yoga To Teen Athletes

Submitted by National Youth Sports Safety Month on Wed, 04/16/2014 - 14:07. | comments

In recognition of April as National Youth Sports Safety Month, MomsTeam is again asking our friends in the health, fitness, nutrition and athletic training communities to write blogs answering two questions: first, how or why did they get into their field, and second, how have they made a difference in the life of a youth athlete in the past year.

Today, we hear from certified yoga instructor, Deb Bowen.

A sports mom tells how she was inspired by her son's overuse injury to become a certified yoga teacher so she could bring the physical and mental benefits of yoga to teen athletes.

National Youth Sports Safety Month

National Youth Sports Safety Month: Some Progress, But Still A Long Way To Go

Submitted by National Youth Sports Safety Month on Mon, 03/31/2014 - 17:14. | comments

By Brooke de Lench

A solid foundation

When the non-profit 501(c)(3) National Youth Sports Safety Foundation (NYSSF) was formed in 1989, its mission was to provide information on the prevention of youth sports injuries. It got its start after Rita Glassman's young daughter Michelle suffered a severe back injury which ended her tennis career. Rita was the first to designate April as National Youth Sports Safety Month, which MomsTeam has been celebrating every year since 2001.

In celebration of April as National Youth Sports Safety Month, MomsTEAM is re-posting many of the blog entries contributed in 2012 by some our favorite sports medicine and safety experts and sprinkling in some new ones.

Douglas E. Abrams, J.D.

Youth Sports Heroes of the Month: Overland High School (Aurora, Colo.) Girls Soccer Team

Submitted by Douglas E. Abrams, J.D. on Mon, 03/31/2014 - 14:12. | comments

When the Overland High School Trailblazers opened their varsity soccer season against the Fairview High School Knights on March 12, the girls were short one player. The referees sidelined Trailblazer Samah Aidah as a result of a pre-game ruling that her hijab, a headscarf worn by Muslim women as a sign of modesty and devotion, created an alleged "danger." Aurora Colorado girls soccer team wearing hajibs

When a referee sidelined Overland High School soccer player Samah Aidah because her hijab allegedly created a "danger," her teammates expressed their solidarity at their next game by all wearing hajibs.

Brooke de Lench

On The Road Again: A Report From The Concussion Summit Trail

Submitted by Brooke de Lench on Fri, 03/28/2014 - 20:42. | comments

For those of you wondering where I have been lately, I have been taking a break from blogging and writing because of a heavy speaking and consulting schedule, because I have been busy working on updating our documentary, "The Smartest Team: Making High School Football Safer" with new edits and information in time for broadcast in the summer and fall 2014, and because I have been preoccupied with getting our new 501(c)(3) non-profit, MomsTEAM Institute, off to a good start.

Brooke has been taking a break from blogging and writing because of a heavy speaking and consulting schedule, and to work on updating the PBS documentary, "The Smartest Team: Making High School Football Safer" with new edits and information in time for broadcast in the summer and fall 2014, and because she has been hard at work getting her new 501(c)(3) non-profit, MomsTEAM Institute, off to a good start.

Gretchen Rose

Last Dance: Reflections of A Dance Mom

Submitted by Gretchen Rose on Fri, 03/21/2014 - 16:26. | comments

Dedicated to the Parents of the Class of 2014 who have seen their

child’s last pass, catch, pitch, serve, goal, basket, cheer, tumble, at bat, or dance.

The plane touched down in Orlando Florida. The trip that I had been looking forward to, as well as dreading for many years, was finally here. My daughter’s drill team was competing in the Contest of Champions with drill teams, state champions all, from all over the nation vying for national honors.

A mom looks back on her daughter's years of dance and as part of a drill team.

Douglas E. Abrams, J.D.

Disciplining Youth Sports Coaches: Lots of Factors To Consider

Submitted by Douglas E. Abrams, J.D. on Sat, 03/08/2014 - 21:18. | comments

My March "Youth Sports Hero of the Month" column honored 12-year-old Matthew Marotta for his sportsmanship at the end of a hard-fought pee wee hockey tournament game in Winnipeg, Manitoba on February 16.

For readers who might not have read that blog entry yet, the Nanaimo Clippers edged Matthew's Prince George Cougars, 3-2, on a hotly disputed goal in the final moments of double overtime. Youth hockey player watching action from bench

In his March Youth Sports Hero of the Month blog, Doug Abrams honored 12-year-old Matthew Marotta for his sportsmanship at the end of a hard-fought pee wee hockey tournament game in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In this post, the former youth hockey coach focuses on the factors sports leagues should weigh in considering disciplinary measures against a coach, using the Marotta incident as a jumping off point.