Safety Keeping kids safe is a top priority and fundamental piece of our mission to get more kids involved in sports. National Center for Safety Initiatives (NCSI) is a youth safety advocacy group and leading background screening provider that serves youth sports and civic organizations and national governing bodies across the country. Read NCSI stories Presented by Sports Organizations Rethinking Safety Standards Continued wave of school shootings have club operators exploring ways to keep their facilities safe Sport injury and prevention guidesThe National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS) seeks to train and educate coaches, educators and family members to ensure that young people participate in a safe environment so they get all of the benefits associated with youth sports. Read more by NCYS Volleyball Injuries and Prevention Softball Injuries and Prevention Soccer Injuries and Prevention Lacrosse Injuries and Prevention Hockey Injuries and Prevention Football Injuries and Prevention Basketball Injuries and Prevention Baseball Injuries and Prevention Building a safer future for youth sportsPromote abuse-free sport settings with these resources and articles for parents and athletes from the U.S. Center for SafeSport. View more Get the Gold Standard of Background Checks Protect your athletes, families, and organization with industry-leading background checks from the National Center for Safety Initiatives Protect your athletes Concussion care and prevention Returning to Learning After a Concussion Concussion Protocol Explained: How Does It Work? Kids Don’t Know About Concussion Good Sleep Quality Helps Youth Concussion Recovery Getting a good night's sleep after a sports-related concussion might lead to a shorter recovery time in adolescents The Top 10 Reasons Players Don’t Report a Concussion Find out 10 ways to to help athletes combat a negative team concussion culture Heads Up: Concussion Stats Reveal Surprising Numbers Study shows about 300,000 youth athletes suffer concussions each year Cognitive Training Could Prevent Concussions After so many years of high profile news around concussions it is encouraging to see scientific evidence about reducing the risk of head impacts in ice hockey. Returning to Play After a Concussion Coaches should also give information to the parents regarding the signs and symptoms of concussion so they can monitor their child at home. Why is Rest Important After a Concussion? Concussion Myths Parents and Athletes Should Know It’s important to educate both athletes and parents about the facts Recognizing the Symptoms of a Concussion As a coach or parent, do you know the signs that indicate that a player has been concussed? Common Signs and Symptoms of Concussions To reduce the likelihood of players lying so they can stay in the game, be sure to emphasize the importance of honesty and how the number one priority is their long-term safety. View More More Safety Articles Safety in Sports Includes Mental Health Care Learn how to recognize the signs and symptoms of your athlete's mental health struggles. New Things You Need to Know about Concussions in Youth Sport Newer research shows that some prior recommendations, including prolonged periods of rest, were not helpful for recovery from concussions. How Can Coaches Help Make a Safe and Inclusive Playing Environment for Players? Get advice from youth sports coaches on how to make your organization a more safe and inclusive place for youth athletes. Background Checks Are a Buyer-Beware Proposition Discounted screenings often ignore local databases that can be costly to mine for information Background Screening – Your First Line of Defense Of the 60 million youth athletes throughout the United States, up to an estimated 4.8 million may be victims of sexual abuse. This is why the main priority for the Athlete Protection & Safety program at USA Lacrosse is implementing... 9 Safety Tips To Ensure Emotional and Physical Safety of Players Here are 9 simple tips for ensuring that your players are emotionally and physically safe in their sport. Football Player Safety Rises to the Forefront Player safety is becoming an increasingly vital aspect of youth sports. Tools to Help Parents and Coaches Keep Young Athletes Safe The U.S. Center for SafeSport guides parents and coaches across America on diverse athlete safety topics—like how to respond if your child discloses abuse. To Assess Camp Safety This Summer, Ask the Right Questions Is Your Child’s Camp Safety-Ready? These 8 questions can help you gauge whether your child’s summer activity provider is well prepared to prevent and address abuse and misconduct . Athletes Come First at Chaparral Wrestling Club Watch this short story for a firsthand account of how the U.S. Center for SafeSport has supported Chaparral Wrestling Club in fostering a positive environment for anyone who gets on the mat. Sports Injury Prevention: Top 3 Youth Sports Safety Tips April is Youth Sports Safety Month, and fewer things are more important to sports families than keeping their athletes safe. How Can You Help Prevent Sexual Abuse in Youth Sports? More Safety Articles