While coaches may seem like the experts when it comes to youth sports development, parents play a significant role, too! As their primary and most influential mentors, parents play a substantial part in the development of their child’s athletic abilities, health, life skill developmen …

While it may seem advantageous to a youth athlete’s skill development to specialize in one sport, research tells us that multi-sport participation offers many benefits! Sports specialization is defined as “intense, year-round training in a single sport with the exclusion of other spor …

Last month, we explored injury reporting, what it is, and how and why to report it. Injury reporting is reporting sports-related incidents that harm an athlete during a practice or game. Completing an injury report is important to ensure proper communication and implementation of emer …

While strength training may appear to be more of an advanced form of training suited for adults, it is widely accepted and beneficial for youth athlete’s health and fitness! It has become increasingly popular during youth sports off-season to maintain sport-specific strength. Research …

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Creating practice plans for youth sports is key to the positive development of young athletes. Not only does effectively structuring youth sports practice sessions support injury prevention, but it also promotes athlete's interest and skill development! Here are some tips to help coac …

The support and involvement of parents/guardians in their children’s sports participation can positively impact the overall safety of youth athletes. Proactive training, communication and education are crucial in engaging parents/guardians and keeping them informed on sports safety. B …

As we wrap up our 3 part blog series on injury reporting, let’s review what we’ve learned thus far! First, we covered what injury reporting actually is and last week, we learned how to report injuries effectively. Finally, let’s look at the “WHY” behind injury reporting. There are man …

Last week, we learned what injury reporting is and the “WHY” behind it. In short, injury reporting paints the whole picture of the incident so it can be avoided in the future. It also helps coaches, trainers, parents and providers make more informed care decisions! Let’s look at the “ …

What Is Injury Reporting? Injury reports is the reporting of sports-related incidents that do harm to an athlete during a practice or game. Completing an injury report is an important step for youth sports organizations to ensure proper communication and implementation of emergency ac …

In youth sports, having rules and policies in place sets expectations and provides clear instructions and guidance for managing any problems should they arise. Our December 6th blog post covered the fundamentals of a sports safety plan and its crucial elements, including implementing …

With the warmer months behind us and winter break quickly approaching, so are youth sports off-season. This time of year brings celebration and a respite from organized sports - no games or regular practices- a crucial time to maintain off-season fitness. Research shows that athletes …

Creating a sports safety plan sounds intimidating, but it doesn't have to be! Let's break it down. Risk management or sports safety plans are controllable and preventative actions that coaches can take to help protect their athletes' well-being. As young athletes continue to specializ …

Words hold a lot of weight. As parents and coaches, the effects of our words on our children and athletes are abundantly clear. What we say has the power to heal, hurt, encourage, and criticize. We’ve all had that coach or fitness instructor whose “tough coach” approach didn’t land, o …

The Problem - No ATs means increased risk! As we well know, athletic trainers (ATs) are highly trained healthcare professionals who provide care for physically active people. Many ATs work with athletes on sports teams and their extensive education and training allow them to provide i …

We know that sports programs can do wonders to improve youth athlete’s physical and mental health, but would you be surprised to learn that the benefits extend even further? Participating in sports as a young person can also lead to academic and career success, economic impacts and in …

Have you ever left a doctor’s appointment feeling confused or a bit overwhelmed? You maybe even forgot to ask about that ONE thing that you promised yourself you wouldn’t forget. You’re not alone! Studies show that 40-80% of the medical information patients give during their visit is …

This week is National Youth Sports Specialization Awareness Week! You might wonder, “What does that mean exactly and how does it affect me?” Early sports specialization is defined as “intense year-round training in a specific sport with the exclusion of other sports at a young age.” I …

Let’s talk about a Coach’s role in sports safety. Coaches support their athletes in much more than skill development, supervision and sportsmanship. With youth sports injuries at a record-breaking high, Coaches must work alongside team Athletic Trainers (ATs) to carry out the essentia …

Did you know that Athletic Trainers (ATs) are not only highly educated and trained medical professionals but that 70% of ATs also have a Master's Degree? As of 2022, a Masters is now the minimum entry point for becoming an AT. Athletic Trainers take care of injuries, prevent injuries, …

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 …