MomsTEAM Celebrates 12th Anniversary with Summer of Football (Part One)

Submitted by Brooke de Lench on Thu, 08/23/2012 - 19:24. | comments

Today is MomsTEAM's twelfth anniversary! It was on this day in 2000 that our website went live.

On our anniversary in years past I have blogged about what happened in the previous 12 months in youth sports, but this year the focus will be on youth football.

Why the narrower focus? Well, for two big reasons.

This has been the summer of football for MomsTEAM for two big reasons: first, we have been working on an exciting concussion project focusing on a football program in Oklahoma, and second, we have just returned from a visit to the Mecca of football: the New York City headquarters of the National Football League.

Brooke de Lench

Buyer Beware (Part 1): Claims That Equipment Can Prevent Concussions Too Good To Be True

Submitted by Brooke de Lench on Sun, 08/19/2012 - 14:09. | comments

It seems that not a day goes by without news about a new product that supposedly reduces the risk of concussion.

Almost invariably, it turns out that the manufacturer's claims are not supported by peer-reviewed scientific evidence. But that doesn't seem to stop most of them, until, at least, their claims attract the attention of the Federal Trade Commission. Youth football game at line of scrimmage

It seems that not a day goes by without news about a product that supposedly reduces the risk of concussion. Almost invariably, it turns out that the manufacturer's claims are not supported by peer-reviewed scientific evidence. But that doesn't seem to stop most of them, at least until their claims attract the attention of the FTC.

Brooke de Lench

FTC Says No Proof That Mouthguard Reduces Concussion Risk: Not Surprising To MomsTEAM

Submitted by Brooke de Lench on Fri, 08/17/2012 - 22:19. | comments

For years, it seems, MomsTEAM has been getting e-mails from mouth guard manufacturers touting their products as reducing the risk of concussion, despite the lack of any peer-reviewed scientific studies to support their claims. Three youth football players watching action

The announcement by the Federal Trade Commission that claims by mouthguard manufacturer Brain-Pad that its product reduced the risk of concussion are not supported by the scientific evidence is just what I have been saying for years.

Protein FAQs for Athletes

Protein is a popular topic these days among competitive athletes, but there is a lot of confusion about how much protein they need, when they should eat it, and the best kinds of protein to choose. A leading sports nutritionist answers to some frequently asked questions active people commonly ask about protein in a sports diet.

Youth Sports Heroes of the Month: 1955 Cannon Street YMCA All-Stars Baseball Team (Charleston, S.C.)

Little League calls them "the most significant amateur team in baseball history." The Charleston (S.C.) Post and Courier calls them "perhaps the most important team in youth sports history." They were the Cannon Street YMCA All-Stars, a team of 11-12-year-olds who went to the Little League World Series in 1955, but, because they were black, never got to play an inning.

Centers for Disease Control Taps MomsTEAM's Moser For Expert Concussion Panel

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has named MomsTEAM's expert sports concussion neuropsychologist Rosemarie Scolaro Moser, Ph.D., to its Pediatric Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Panel of Expertm which will develop clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and management of mTBI.

Do Children Handle Heat As Well As Adults?

The myth that children are more vulnerable to heat than adults is based on the first studies of youth exercising in the heat conducted in the 1970's and 1980's. More recent research shows that, while youth use a different thermoregulation strategy than adults, they are still efficient at dissipating and handling the heat, at least in mild to moderately hot conditions.

Brooke de Lench

The Best NFL Player Who Never Was

Submitted by Brooke de Lench on Thu, 07/12/2012 - 13:23. | comments

There will be times in our lives that we have an opportunity to listen to a motivational speaker whose story is so powerful that it leaves an indelible impression to last a lifetime. JK Parker and Brooke de Lench

Recently, I had that opportunity when I heard John “JK” Parker speak to a high school football team in Oklahoma with which MomsTEAM is working to develop a concussion management program.

There will be times in our lives that we have an opportunity to listen to a motivational speaker whose story is so powerful that it leaves an indelible impression to last a lifetime. Recently, I had that opportunity when I heard John “JK” Parker speak to a high school football team in Oklahoma about how the use of performance enhancing drugs deprived him of a chance at NFL stardom.

Ahead of the Game: The Parents' Guide to Youth Sports Concussion

Rosemarie Scolaro Moser's book, Ahead of the Game: The Parent's Guide to Youth Sports Concussion (University Press of New England) is just what it says it is: a practical, no-nonsense guide for parents about sport concussions.

Reviewed by Brooke de Lench

Youth Sports Hero of the Month: Meghan Vogel (West Liberty, Ohio)

When Meghan Vogel helped a fellow athlete across the finish line at a state championship track meet in Ohio, she became an instant YouTube sensation precisely because everyone would not have done the same.

Team of Experts