All Articles by Lindsey Barton Straus, JD

Youth football players get hit on the helmet almost as hard as older players but not nearly as often, says researchers at Virginia Tech.

A 2012 study finds that the reduced flow of blood to the brain of concussed adolescent athletes sometimes persists longer than 30 days, and adds to the growing body of evidence that the brains of children and teens are more vulnerable to concussion, supports need for cognitive rest after concussion, and substantiates the need for more conservative management of concussions in young athletes.

Teenage athletes are more vulnerable to the lingering effect of concussion on short-term memory than younger athletes and adults, a new Canadian study finds.  While all concussions need to be taken seriously, the study suggests that they should be managed differently for different age groups.

The latest expert advice on ways to minimize the risk that your young pitcher will suffer an injury to their elbow or shoulder.

In 2012 Georgia became the sixth state to adopt heat-acclimatization guidelines to reduce the risk of exertional heat stroke among high school athletes.  In adopting  key recommendations from a 2009 statement from the National Athletic Trainers Association, the Georgia High School Association joins Connecticut, New Jersey, Texas and North Carolina.  Since then 10 other states have adopted the full set of heat recommendations.

The harder a youth baseball pitcher throws, the greater may be the risk of elbow injury, says a new study, which suggests adjusting current injury prevention guidelines focusing on pitch counts to include pitch velocity as a factor.

One of the biggest hazards in baseball, yet often the most overlooked, is the diamond itself.  Sprinkler heads and gopher holes in the outfield can can cause players to slip, leading to sprained ankles, twisted knees or torn knee ligaments, while balls hitting pebbles on the infield can bounce up and hit a player in the throat, face, eyes, or forehead.

Hot and/or humid conditions pose significant risk for heat-related illness in children and adolescents playing baseball and softball, warns the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Electrical storms during baseball and softball games and practices are a constant concern.  Here are some lightning safety tips for administrators, parents, and coaches.

There's more to baseball and softball safety these days than batting helmets and catcher's gear.  Here's a list of some other important safety equipment, some of which should be mandatory.