Return to Learn Advocacy - The Athletic Trainer’s Role
by Lauren Spirov on Jul 20, 2023 9:00:00 AM
As Return-to-Learn (RTL) in athletics is becoming an increasingly important topic, athletic trainers (ATs) play a crucial role in supporting student-athletes following an injury. As part of the athlete care ecosystem and as trained healthcare professionals, ATs are ideal candidates, f …
Athlete’s Return to Learn Process - The More You Know
by Lauren Spirov on Jul 13, 2023 8:30:00 AM
You’re likely familiar with Return To Play (RTP) protocols following a concussion, but what about Return To Learn (RTL)? RTL protocols outline recommendations for the amount of time between a concussion and when an athlete returns to learning in the school setting. RTL protocols are o …
Beyond the Game - The Importance of Coach Education
by Lauren Spirov on Jul 5, 2023 11:30:21 AM
A coach's number one responsibility is to protect their athletes. They are legally obligated to provide proper instruction and a safe physical environment. Coach education and training improve the athlete experience and save athletes' lives. Without it, coaches are putting their athle …
Volleyball Pre-season: The Coach’s Role in Promoting Compliance
by Lauren Spirov on Jun 28, 2023 8:00:00 AM
With volleyball and other fall sports quickly approaching, coaches must start to consider their health and safety compliance requirements, not only for in-season period but for pre-participation as well. Coaches have an obligation and responsibility to ensure that their programs are i …
Volleyball Injuries and Coach Reporting - How Reporting Reduces Risks
by Lauren Spirov on Jun 21, 2023 8:30:00 AM
Volleyball is one of the world’s most popular sports due to its simplicity and accessibility. Volleyball is played by over 200 million athletes nationwide and is one of the most popular high school sports in the United States. Historically, volleyball has yielded high participation in …
Return To Play Readiness - 6 Steps for Prioritizing Concussion Safety
by Lauren Spirov on Jun 14, 2023 8:45:00 AM
Roughly 2 in 10 youth athletes participating in youth contact sports suffer a concussion. Even more alarming is that 5 in 10 concussions go unreported or undetected. With such critically high concussion rates, parents, coaches and trainers have a duty to prioritize sports safety among …
The Prevalence of Volleyball Preseason Injuries
by Lauren Spirov on Jun 7, 2023 9:00:00 AM
Summer has only just begun, but volleyball athletes are also entering their preseason along with summer camps and vacations. It’s essential for coaches and athletes to be aware that volleyball injury rates are significantly higher during preseason compared to fall’s in-season - almost …
Responding to Athlete’s Mental Health Signs and Symptoms - How You Can Support
by Lauren Spirov on May 31, 2023 10:00:00 AM
Coaches, Athletic Trainers (ATs), parents and guardians don’t have to be experts in the mental health field to support their athletes effectively. In a recent study conducted by the NCAA, student-athletes reported that they look towards coaches as their primary source for information …
Athlete Mental Health - The Role Coaches and Athletic Trainers Play
by Lauren Spirov on May 24, 2023 10:00:00 AM
Over 30% of collegiate and professional athletes report having struggled with mental health issues. Many of these athletes experience mental illness symptoms that are serious enough to warrant professional intervention, such as counseling. What’s more and equally concerning, according …
A Coach's Role in Supporting Athlete Mental Health Post Injury
by Lauren Spirov on May 17, 2023 9:00:00 AM
In a 2023 NCAA-led survey completed by more than 6,000 head, assistant and associate coaches, over 80% of respondents reported spending significantly more time discussing mental health with their student-athletes than they did prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s increasingly apparent …