Online Services
For members, employers, providers, visitors...

The information and tools you need are only a click away!

April is National Youth Sports Safety Month

Sports participation has become a major cause of serious injury among youth and is listed as the second most frequent cause of injury for both male and female adolescents. The National Youth Sports Safety Foundation, Inc. (NYSSF), a national non-profit, educational organization dedicated to reducing the number and severity of injuries youth sustain in sports and fitness activities, estimates approximately three to five million youth are seen annually in hospital emergency rooms for sports injuries, while another eight million are treated by family physicians. This translates to tens of millions of dollars annually in medical costs.

The National Youth Sports Safety Foundation states that most sports injuries are preventable and list key safety considerations that should be followed in your community.

• Are the coaches in your community certified in sports first aid and CPR (including coaches involved in school sports and volunteer coaches who run youth leagues)?
• Are the coaches certified by either the: national governing body of their sport, American Red Cross Sports Safety Training Program, National Youth Sports Coaches Association, or American Sport Education Program.
• Are background checks done on coaches before they are hired?
• Does the coach have a written emergency plan in case of an accident, and has it been rehearsed?
• Is there a first-aid box and ice at the site of all practices and games?
• Does the coach have the youngsters do warm-ups, stretching, and cool down exercises?
• Does the coach hand out a conditioning program before signups, so the children know before they go out for a team what is to be expected of them physically?
• Does your town have a sports injury prevention course for students as part of their health education program?
• Are pre-participation physical exams required for sports activities?
• Are the facilities checked for safety on a regular basis?
• Is safety equipment available or required? If yes: Does it fit properly? Does it meet national standards? Is it in good condition?
• Does the team have a sports parent code of conduct?
• Does the team have a preseason meeting for parents outlining the program philosophy and safety procedures?

More than sixty national medical and sports organizations support National Youth Sports Safety Month, including the American College of Sports Medicine, The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, and The United States Olympic Committee.

For more information:

• Visit the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation web site at www.nyssf.org
• Explore the Physical Activity for Children page of Preferred Care's online Health Encyclopedia.

Posted: April 2005