MomsTeam

Latest Title IX News: Lockers, Bands, Cheerleaders, and A Movie

Donald Collins — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:32:51 -0500

Most tend to think of Title IX as involving just numbers, because that's what we see most often when we read about the law as it applies to college sports programs. But Title IX isn't just a numbers game; as two recent cases in the news highlight, it also requires that the girls receive equal treatment and benefits from educational institutions, including high schools.

The Road to Varsity Requires Patience, Patience, Patience

Barbara Bleiweis — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:33:29 -0500

"Be patient, Barbara. The games will come." Such was the advice of Ed, the camp director of the first basketball officiating camp I attended in 2006. Ed took a personal interest in my career and helped me improve by observing my games and encouraging me to focus on the big picture. He advised that my goal should be on step-by-step improvement and a conviction that I will improve if I put my mind to it. AND, to give it time, and the games will come.

Extending Concussion Safety Laws To Cover All Youth Sports Programs Essential

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:17:02 -0500

The following is a redacted version of a letter one mom of a concussed young football player recently sent to her state legislators in a Midwestern state:

Dear _________________:

As the mother of an eight-year-old who sustained a concussion during bantam football practice, I believe it is essential for the provisions of our state's youth sports concussion safety law to be applied to all children participating in contact and collision sports held on school grounds. The injuries which occurred on my son's team of approximately 25 third- and fourth-graders clearly demonstrate that concussion information is necessary for these players, their parents, and their coaches.

The Unmarked Detour: A Family's Journey Through Post-Concussion Syndrome (Video)

Dorothy Bedford — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:33:17 -0500

When her daughter Heidi suffered a concussion warming up in goal before a hockey game in February 2010, litle did Dorothy Bedford realize that the night would mark the beginning of a fourteen-month long recovery from post-concussion syndrome requiring three medical leaves of absences and treatment by nearly a dozen medical specialists.

"Soft Red" Card in High School Soccer Eliminated for 2012-2013

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:34:06 -0500

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (February 13, 2012) - In a continued emphasis on improving sportsmanship, the "soft red" card has been eliminated in high school soccer.

Effective with the 2012-13 season, a second yellow card not only will disqualify a player, but the team will not be permitted to substitute for the disqualified player. Previously, a team was permitted to replace a player who had received a second yellow card.

Heading in Soccer: Long-Term Effect Remains Unclear

Lindsay Barton — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:41:20 -0500

While it is possible that intentional heading in soccer represents a form of repetitive subconcussive mild brain injury which, over time, could be a cause of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), the possible cause-and-effect relationship remains theoretical, say the authors of a new study, published in the journal Neurosurgery.¹

Female Soccer Players At Risk for Stress Fractures, Long-Term Health Problems: Study

Lindsay Barton — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:51:28 -0500

Elite female soccer players are at risk for menstrual irregularities and stress fractures from the combination of intense training and insufficient nutrition, says a new study.¹

Warm-Up Program Cuts ACL Injury Rate In Adolescent Female Soccer Players By Two-Thirds: Study

Lindsay Barton — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:47:21 -0500

A 15-minute neuromuscular warm-up program significantly reduced the ACL injury rate in teenage female soccer players, finds a new Swedish study, the first large-scale randomized study of its kind.¹ Compliant players also had significant decrease in rates of severe knee injury and any acute knee injury.

Football Helmets: New Guidelines Issued For Ensuring Proper Fit

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 14:12:24 -0500

Guidelines for properly fitting football helmets have been issued. The guidelines, believed to be the first protocol of their kind, were presented as part of a study to the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine meeting in San Francisco in February 2012 which found that making sure that football helmets fit properly, and that those with air bladder linings are properly inflated, may be two of the simplest but most effective ways to minimize the risk of concussion and catastrophic brain injury in the sport.

Preventing Sexual Abuse By Youth Coaches: Criminal Background Checks Not Enough

Donald Collins — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 13:37:01 -0500

Recent sex abuse scandals at Penn State and in USA Swimming make it clear that fingerprinting coaches isn't enough to protect athletes from being victims of sexual abuse at the hands of coaches. Jerry Sandusky and the 36 elite youth swimming coaches caught up in the USA Swimming scandal all either passed or would have passed fingerprint tests. So would hundreds of youth coaches who abuse their athletes.