The National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS), as part of its ongoing efforts to help ensure that volunteer coaches are fully prepared to provide the safest sports experiences possible for the youngsters under their care, has released a new Concussion Training program.
The online program – free to all National Youth Sports Coaches Association (NYSCA) coaches – addresses a serious issue that is front and center on the minds of everyone involved in youth sports these days.
“We strongly encourage all of our member coaches to take advantage of this outstanding free resource,” said John Engh, chief operating officer of NAYS. “Too many young athletes are being put at unnecessary risk, and having their long-term health jeopardized, so it’s up to today’s volunteer coaches to be fully up to speed on concussions and their roles and responsibilities regarding them.”
Signing up for the program is easy: If you're an existing member simply log in, visit the online clinic page and add the free concussion course. Just click
HERE to get started.
If you're not a member, you can become one now by clicking
HERE, which will give you access to not only the concussion training, but a wealth of NAYS resources to enhance your coaching skills.
The Concussion Training program is broken down into several sections, as it explains concussions; details the signs and symptoms associated with them; covers how coaches can limit the risk of players sustaining them; shows coaches how to handle situations when a child has appeared to suffer one; and goes over when it’s safe to allow a youngster to return to action after sustaining one.
The material also includes video clips with noted expert Dr. Robert Masson, president of the Neurospine Institute and an internationally recognized neurosurgeon. A former college football player at the University of Florida, Dr. Masson suffered five major concussions and is passionate about concussion education, recognition and awareness.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates between 1.6 million to 3.8 million concussions occur each year in sports-related activities.
“Coaches and parents need to be aware that children are at risk,” says Dr. Julie Gilchrist, a medical epidemiologist with the CDC’s Injury Center. “You can’t tell kids to shake it off, to play through the pain or that they’ll be fine. Those mantras we heard growing up are not appropriate. Concussions need to be taken seriously and parents and coaches need to know what to do.”
In order to successfully complete the Concussion Training, coaches must correctly answer all seven multiple choice questions that appear at the conclusion of the program that cover the material presented. Once coaches have correctly answered all the questions they can print out a certificate that acknowledges they have completed this additional concussion training.
Also, in the Additional Resources section of the program coaches will find printable handouts, access to videos and podcasts, and links to visit the CDC’s concussion website as well as the STOP Sports Injuries website.
