Are Parents Who Allow Young Athletes To Play Contact or Collision Sports Guilty of Child Abuse?

Submitted by Brooke de Lench on Wed, 10/05/2011 - 20:01. | comments

As long-time visitors to MomsTeam or readers of my blog and 2006 book, Home Team Advantage, know, I have always taken a somewhat expansive view of what constitutes child abuse in the context of sports.

Parents who allow their children - particularly elementary school age-children - to participate in collision sports are not engaging in child abuse simply by letting them play.

Brooke de Lench

Concussion Safety: Past, Present and Future

Submitted by Brooke de Lench on Wed, 10/05/2011 - 17:13. | comments

The other day I was asked in a radio interview what I thought were the biggest recent developments in concussion safety, and what I saw happening in the near future to protect our kids from the dangers of brain injury in contact and collision sports. Here are the five developments that I view as the most significant, and a seven-point "wish list" for what I hope to see in the not too distant future to make such sports even safer:

The other day I was asked in a radio interview what I thought were biggest recent developments in concussion safety, and what I saw happening in the near future to protect our kids from the dangers of brain injury in contact and collision sports. Here are the five developments that I view as the most significant, and a seven-point "wish list" for what I hope to see in the not too distant future to make such sports even safer:

Brooke de Lench

Impact Indicator: New Tool in Concussion Toolbox

Submitted by Brooke de Lench on Mon, 09/26/2011 - 18:07. | comments

If you are anything like me, worrying about your kids' safety is woven deeply into the fabric of your DNA. As the mom of a football player, I know football moms are no exception. No matter how strong we may appear to be on the outside, worry is our constant companion, especially when it comes to injuries, like concussions.

So what's a mom to do? Live with it in anguish? Or do something about it?

More and more moms are choosing, like I have been for more than a decade, to be pro-active about their kids' safety in sports, and, in doing so are turning to an unlikely source - technology - to ease their fears.

More and more moms are choosing, like I have been for more than a decade, to be pro-active about their kids' safety in sports, and, in doing so are turning to an unlikely source - technology - to ease their fears. One of the new products on the market, to which MomsTeam is proud to give its Seal of Approval. is the Impact Indicator from Battle Sports Science.

Brooke de Lench

Mouth Guards and Concussions: The Continuing Controversy

Submitted by Brooke de Lench on Sun, 09/18/2011 - 20:49. | comments

If you have been following the subject of concussions in sports for any length of time, as I have for more than a decade, the question always seems to come up: do mouth guards prevent concussions?

The answer, at least to this point, seems to continue to be no, or, perhaps more precisely, we don't know. Jigsaw of head with missing piece

If you have been following the subject of concussions in sports for any length of time, as I have for more than a decade, the question always seems to come up: do mouth guards prevent concussions? The answer, at least to this point, seems to continue to be no, or, perhaps more precisely, we don't know.

Brooke de Lench

See Bill Meehan as Part of ReadBoston Celebrity Authors Series

Submitted by Brooke de Lench on Sun, 09/18/2011 - 14:22. | comments

For those MomsTeam readers in the Boston area, here's a chance to hear more about concussions in sports from one of the most knowledgeable experts in the area.

At 5:30 p.m. on Monday, September 19th, MomsTeam concussion expert, William P. Meehan, III, will be talking about his new book, Kids, Sports, and Concussion, as part of the ReadBoston celebrity author series.

Kids, Sports, and Concussions book cover

At 5:30 p.m. on Monday, September 19th, MomsTeam concussion expert, William P. Meehan, III, will be talking about his new book, Kids, Sports, and Concussion, as part of the ReadBoston celebrity author series.

Brooke de Lench

When Bob Cantu Says No Collision Sports Before Age 14, Parents Need to Listen

Submitted by Brooke de Lench on Thu, 09/15/2011 - 13:23. | comments

The blockbuster announcement came across my desk two days ago, but it took me a while to process its full significance. In fact, it may take me a while longer to fully appreciate all of its implications for youth sports.

Dr. Bob Cantu, MomsTeam's first concussion expert from 2000-2008, and someone I have known and respected for more than a decade, is recommending that kids under the age of 14 not participate in collision sports as currently played. Youth football players stretching

The blockbuster announcement came across my desk two days ago, but it took me a while to process its full significance. In fact, it may take me a while longer to fully appreciate all of its implications for youth sports. Dr. Bob Cantu, MomsTeam's first concussion expert, and someone I have known and respected for more than a decade, is recommending that kids under the age of 14 not participate in collision sports as currently played.

Barbara Bleiweis

My Polaroid Moment......Good things develop over time...

Submitted by Barbara Bleiweis on Wed, 09/14/2011 - 13:22. | comments

As an official, I have the benefit of seeing immediate behavior changes as a direct result of my calls. Blow the whistle and play stops. Warn the kids to ease up rough play, and they do. Such immediate gratification comes with the job. As a parent, however, this is not always the case. Aside from adoption of safety rules such as "wear your seatbelt!", or "look both ways before crossing the street!", we might witness the demonstration of values such as honesty, integrity, or good sportsmanship over time and only in certain circumstances.

The Violence In Youth Sports Continues

Submitted by Greg Covi on Fri, 09/02/2011 - 05:08. | comments

I just saw this video and I provided the link below for all to see. This video and the actions of one football team make me ill to my stomach. I just don't have any words for it right now but will follow up on it at a later time. Please view the article and the video and give your comments on it. We as a society have to do something to prevent this type of stuff from happening.

http://sarasota.patch.com/articles/video-shows-youth-football-coaches-player-attacking-referee#video-7585595

They must be prosecuted

Brooke de Lench

Talking Concussions with Gay Culverhouse

Submitted by Brooke de Lench on Tue, 08/30/2011 - 14:56. | comments

There has been a flurry of books in recent years about concussions in sports, an issue MomsTeam and I began covering in depth back in 2001, way before the crisis grabbed the attention of the media, politicians and the sports establishment. So, when I received a review copy of Throwaway Players: The Concussion Crisis from Pee Wee Football to the NFL by Gay Culverhouse, I was a bit skeptical that it could add anything new to the discussion.

I couldn't have been more wrong! I loved this book!

Throwaway Players: The Concussion Crisis from Pee Wee Football to the NFL by Gay Culverhouse offers an oftentimes painfully honest, up-close-and-personal glimpse into a world of concussions.

Pay to Play: Pinching Parents and Players

Submitted by Craig Morton on Sun, 08/28/2011 - 14:33. | comments

Over the winter months of 2011, there were news reports of budget battles across the county: Indiana, Ohio, Florida, and most notably, Wisconsin. These budget woes carried many abstract worries about balanced budgets, corporate tax subsidies, collective bargaining, and varieties of public works projects. In most all of these states, public education was a central issue.

Over the winter months of 2011, there were news reports of budget battles across the county: Indiana, Ohio, Florida, and most notably,Wisconsin. In most all of these states, public education was a central issue. The solution many states have attempted to implement is a
scheme called, “pay to play.”