Formed in 1989, the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation prides itself on educating parents, coaches, athletes and health care professionals on injury prevention in youth athletes. The National Youth Sports Safety Foundation has a goal of reducing the number of injuries as well as the severity of injuries seen in youth sports. Sports injuries in youth sports are a serious, yet often preventable concern.
Promoting Awareness
The National Youth Sports Safety Foundation recommends awareness as the number one means of preventing sports injuries. Coaches, parents and youth athletes need to understand the risks involved with playing sports, especially when it comes to contact sports. Baseball, football, soccer and basketball all provide the risk of being hit with a ball or a direct collision with a teammate or opposing player. Before signing up for a sports team, coaches and athletic directors should present the entire picture to parents and athletes. This allows for informed decision making.
Guidelines
Youth sports span a variety of different age groups, ability levels and types of sports. Safety concerns vary according to age, ability and sport. The younger the players are the more safety concerns there are to be addressed. High school and even college-aged athletes are more coordinated, educated and understand their sports better. On the other hand, special considerations need to be taken into account when it comes to dealing with elementary school-aged athletes. For example, youth baseball and softball players will frequently hit the ball off the tee or use a coach as a pitcher. A majority of young baseball and softball players do not have the skills or coordination to hit a ball thrown by a pitcher of the same age. Safety for youth athletes of all ages should include proper safety equipment for their sport. Athletes should have helmets, shin guards, pads and mouth guards as well as all other equipment appropriate for their sport. A majority of youth teams have requirements on the equipment youth athletes must have to step foot on the playing surface.
Injury Prevention
The NYSSF indicates that more than 5 million youth athletes are seen and treated in hospital emergency rooms each year due to sports-related injuries. Sports participation is also among the leading causes of serious injuries in youth. Through strict guidelines and education, the NYSSF aims at preventing these injuries. Coaches should also encourage athletes to warm-up and stretch before games and practices. Knowing how to properly play a sport is key in preventing sports-related injuries. Injuries in youth sports range from sprains, fractures, contusions, lacerations and concussions. The NYSSF and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have teamed up to protect youth athletes in sports were concussions are a concern. This program is called "Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports". The campaign focuses on the facts, the symptoms, responding to a concussion and returning to the game after a concussion. Heads Up is aimed at reducing the 3.8 million sports-related concussions that occur annually in the U.S.
NYSSF Services
The NYSSF researches and provides the public with the most up-to-date information on youth sports-related injury prevention. They provide parents, coaches and athletes with information on treatment of sports injuries as well. NYSSF is proud to provide coaching education, conferences, educational literature, a speaker's bureau and a resource center for all individuals involved in youth sports.
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