Moms Speaking Up for Sports Safety Should Be Applauded, Not Dismissed

Submitted by Brooke de Lench on Fri, 12/03/2010 - 15:05. | comments

There is a battle brewing at Laguna Beach High School in California. It involves protecting the safety of kids during sports, so you know which side I fall on. This is no different than hundreds of stories from across the country that that I get sent each month, but this caught my attention because it talked about a Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) infection which is a potentially fatal bacterium that too few sports parents know much about. Artifiical turf end zone

Mom Wants Injured Daughter to SUCK IT UP

Brooke de Lench

North Carolina Moves To Require Athletic Trainers for Every High School

Submitted by Brooke de Lench on Wed, 04/01/2009 - 16:05. | comments

Add North Carolina to the growing list of states that is getting serious about high school sports safety.

During the past school year, five North Carolina student-athletes died, including football players Matt Gfeller, Atlas Fraley, and Jaquan Waller (the last from second impact syndrome), and two basketball players.

In the wake of the deaths, the state is taking four important steps to improve the safety of high school sports.

Brooke de Lench

High School Sports Safety: California Poised To Jump on the Bandwagon

Submitted by Brooke de Lench on Fri, 03/27/2009 - 12:48. | comments

A new day, a new state high school sports safety bill.

Or so it seems.

Last week, it was the state of Washington passing bills to improve concussion safety by requiring pre-season concussion education of athletes and parents, and adoption of the strictest return-to-play concussion guidelines in the country. The bill awaits the governor's signature.

Athletic Health Care Teams: Many Component Parts

An athletic health care team (AHCT) allows a comprehensive approach to sports injuries by middle schools, high schools and community-based sports programs by including medical professionals from many disciplines.

Sports Injury and Prevention Requires Team Approach, Says NATA

To help middle and high schools and private- and community-based youth sports organizations (YSOs) provide appropriate medical care to secondary-school-aged adolescents in sports, the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) recently issued a Summary Statement calling for schools and YSOs to establish, in consulation with administrators, coaches, parents and athletes, athletic health care teams (AHCTs) to approach the issue of athletic injuries in a comprehensive way.

More High School Athletic Trainers Needed, NATA Says

The National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) says first-aid training for coaches not substitute for on-site athletic trainers (ATs) in all high schools.

Help with health and safety guidelines

Time Off From Sports Important

Is your child taking a break from sports this summer or, as so many kids do these days, filling up their summer with tournaments, sports camps and showcases? Long-time U.S. Women's National Hockey Team member, and four-time Olympian, Angela Ruggerio says that, even for (and perhaps especially for) elite athletes, taking time off from a sport to rest and maintain motivation is vitally important.

Youth Sports Liability Waivers: Protecting Towns At The Expense of Our Children’s Safety?

Submitted by Brooke de Lench on Mon, 06/30/2008 - 15:55. | comments

Before every sports season, parents all across the countries are asked to sign forms holding the sports program in which their child will be participating harmless and releasing the program from liability should he be injured. No ifs ands or buts. The parent or guardian of a child using a program or town’s facilities must sign a waiver. Such forms are typical for all camp programs; sports clinics and sporting events organized by independent groups, such as the baseball, soccer and football organizations using town fields.

Program Safety