Creating Awareness Around Abuse and Misconduct Reporting
by Lauren Spirov on Sep 28, 2023 8:45:00 AM
Organized sports have an enormous impact on young people’s lives. From physical benefits to mental, emotional and even academic, the positive outcomes are undeniable. Most of us think back on our time as a youth athlete fondly. We think of the lasting friendships we made, the confiden …
Helmet Safety - Anatomy of a Properly Fitting Football Helmet
by Lauren Spirov on Sep 20, 2023 10:30:00 AM
With National Concussion Awareness Day last week, healthcare professionals are spreading the word! Understanding the signs and symptoms of concussions is key to avoiding and helping to prevent further injuries. Another key is helmet safety. While concussions can’t guarantee concussion …
Concussion Prevention - Changing the Culture of Youth Sports
by Lauren Spirov on Sep 13, 2023 8:40:00 AM
As a young athlete, getting injured can feel disappointing as you watch your teammates progress, enjoy the game and take home wins! It’s tough to feel as though you’re missing out on the camaraderie and team spirit. Of course, as a coach, the goal is not to scare athletes about the da …
Expanding the Athlete Care Circle - Lifting Up Athletic Trainers
by Lauren Spirov on Sep 6, 2023 9:00:00 AM
Athletic trainers (ATs) are essential to athletes' safety and physical health, but they do so much more than meets the eye! ATs provide emergency care and injury prevention, but also comforting peace of mind to sideline parents. Every sports parent can relate to the sigh of relief the …
Supporting Youth Athlete's Mental Health - The Benefits of a Simple Check-In
by Lauren Spirov on Aug 30, 2023 8:45:00 AM
Participating in sports can be one of the best activities for young people. It leads to many incredible outcomes not just now but later in life, too! Alongside the endless physical benefits of participating in sports, it's also a major factor in promoting positive mental health. As pa …
The Impact of Coaches' Words - Recognizing Harmful Behavior in Youth Sports
by Lauren Spirov on Aug 23, 2023 10:22:14 AM
Sport is a beautiful thing that the world has embraced as one of life's greatest teaching tools. However, we must understand that sport (as in life) troubling things can and do happen Research tells us that it can occur in organized youth sports. Coaches play a significant role in ath …
How to Use Sports Research to Inform Safety Initiatives
by Lauren Spirov on Aug 16, 2023 9:30:33 AM
There are a myriad of benefits to documenting athlete data. Not only does documentation help avoid future incidents and provides detailed athlete information for future reference and allow volunteer coaches and ATs to make more informed decisions regarding athlete care. In 2019, South …
Youth Sports Concussion Protocols - What’s Changed?
by Lauren Spirov on Aug 9, 2023 8:30:00 AM
With youth football season right around the corner, it’s a great time to start thinking about concussion safety. Each year in the United States, football consistently yields the highest incidence of concussions across all levels of play. Of these sustained concussions, about half go u …
Wrapping Up Summer Break? 4 Tips for Safe Return to Sports
by Lauren Spirov on Aug 3, 2023 10:00:00 AM
As August continues to warm up, athletes are also warming up in eager anticipation of returning to fall sports. While some athletes can participate in sports year-round, others may take the summer off and enjoy a well-deserved rest period. As coaches, trainers and parents, it’s import …
Volunteer Coach Compliance: Advantages of Centralized Health and Safety Compliance
by Lauren Spirov on Jul 27, 2023 9:00:00 AM
Volunteer coach compliance is paramount to sports safety and athlete well-being. Volunteer coach compliance requirements differ among organizations but typically include training, education, and screening necessary for a youth coach via background checks. In theory, it might seem like …