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 5 Things Every Parent Should Know Before Their Child Joins a Sport These 5 tips help parents set their child up for a safe, fun, and successful first experience in sport 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 Football Injuries and Prevention Lacrosse Injuries and Prevention Hockey Injuries and Prevention Soccer Injuries and Prevention Softball Injuries and Prevention Volleyball 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. How Coaches and Parents Can Be Allies for Officials Take Action! 5 Tips Parents Can Share with Their Teens to Stop Harmful Behavior in Sport This Winter Games, SafeSport Is United for Every Athlete, Every Moment How to Set a Positive Vibe and Tone on Your Team Preventing Bullying in Youth Sports: From Starting Conversations to Setting Expectations, Parents Play an Important Role 5 Tips to Make Overnight Sports Camp Safer for Teen Athletes Overnight sports camps build skills and team culture—understand how to keep your teen safe while they're away. 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 Concussion Protocol Explained: How Does It Work? 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. 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. What is Post Concussion Syndrome? Why is Rest Important After a Concussion? 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. View More More Safety Articles Celebrating 10 Years of SafeSport with USA Hockey and NCSI Hear from Casey Jorgensen, General Counsel with USA Hockey, and the National Center for Safety Initiatives (NCSI) to discuss the decade-long partnership and its emphasis on safety in youth hockey. NFL’s “Play Smart. Play Safe.” Aims To Improve Player Safety At All Levels Show Up to a Tournament or Showcase with a Plan for Success Tournament or showcase play can take a major toll on an athlete’s mind and body. Don’t just show up to a tournament or showcase - show up with a plan that will allow you to play at your best. 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... 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. From the Practice Fields in Your Town to the Podium in Paris, We Support Athletes Learn how the U.S. Center for SafeSport supports athletes of all levels and abilities during the Paris Games and beyond. Background Checks Are a Buyer-Beware Proposition Discounted screenings often ignore local databases that can be costly to mine for information Takeaways From Panel with USA Gymnastics — What Counts As Abusive Coaching There is often a fine line between conditioning-style punishment and abusive behavior from a coach. Hear from coaches and Olympians on tips to make sure your child is safe. Take Action! 5 Tips Parents Can Share with Their Teens to Stop Harmful Behavior in Sport Sports Organizations Reassessing Safety Expectations, Standards Gun violence has club owners and directors devising new ways to keep kids safe US Lacrosse Focuses on Athlete Safety with Partner, NCSI Keeping its athletes safe when not supervised by their parents or guardians is a top priority for US Lacrosse 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. More Safety Articles