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 …
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 …