All Articles by Brooke de Lench

Exertional Heat Stroke: A Must-See Video

Since our launch in August 2000, MomsTEAM has been educating parents, coaches, athletic trainers and players on the dangers of heat illness, how to prevent exertional heat stroke - particularly among football players who are most at risk during pre-season practice - and how heat stroke should be treated if and when it occurs.  

MomsTEAM and the Korey Stringer Institute have been educating parents, coaches, athletic trainers, and athletes for years on the dangers of exertional heat stroke and how to prevent the sudden death of athletes. Here is a great new video from KSI that every parent of an athlete, regardless of sport, should watch.

MomsTEAM's Summer of Football (Part Two): List of N.F.L./USA Football Health & Safety Initiatives Is Impressive

 

"I spend more time on health and safety than any other issue."

~~ Roger Goodell, National Football League Commissioner

 

Last week I attended a luncheon in New York City hosted by the National Football League and its youth football partner, USA Football. In Part Two of my "Summer of Football" blog series, I will focus on some of the important information I took away from the luncheon. N.F.L. Commissioner Roger Goodell and youth football player

While much of what the speakers at the N.F.L./USA Football luncheon I attended last week in New York City was concussions and football safety advice MomsTEAM has been giving parents for years, what impressed me the most was what we were told about the ongoing efforts by the league and its youth football partner to improve health and safety for football players from the pros down to the youth level, a topic which takes up more of N.F.L. commissioner Roger Goodell's time than any other.

King-Devick Testing Kits For Chicago Schools: Just One Tool In Concussion Tool Box

Last week's announcement that a foundation named in honor of the late Chicago Bear Dave Duerson had donated a King-Devick test kit to each of Chicago Public School's 80 high school football programs for use in assessing athletes for suspected concussion on the sports sideline, and that the foundation will work with CPS and the K-D Test manufacturer to implement system-wide testing, was welcome news.

So too was that the Dave Duerson Family Foundation, thru individual and corporate sponsors, plans to roll out its program in other cities in the U.S.

The announcement that the Dave Duerson Foundation was donating a King-Devick test kit to all 80 Chicago high school football programs was welcome news, but it isn't a magic bullet in sideline concussion assessment.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Concussion Apps For Smartphones

There are at least 20 smartphone applications on sports concussions. Evaluating the apps strictly from the standpoint of their usefulness for parents, here's how they stack up and whether they are worth downloading (updated).

Athletes' Resistance To Self-Reporting of Concussion Continues Despite Increased Education

Athletes continue to under-report concussion even when they know the signs and symptoms find recent research, which suggest that efforts to break the code of silence which pervades contact sports, and change the attitudes of athletes towards reporting concussion, are not working.

Best Way To Fight Teen Obesity: More Team Sports, Not Less

The best way to fight obesity in high school students is to increase opportunities for all teens, regardless of athletic ability, to participate in team sports and for more kids to bike and/or walk to school at least 4 times a week, say the authors of a groundbreaking new study in the journal Pediatrics.

Rediscovering The Joys Of Barefoot Running: With Shoes!

Earlier this month I received an email that just may change the way that I train and live my life. To put it in perspective, I need to go back in time a bit (well, more than a bit!).

Having a beautiful beach on which to run barefoot has helped generations of athletes in one Massachusetts town win state championship after championship. A new pair of running shoes is helping MomsTEAM's Founder and Publisher rediscover the joy of going barefoot.