All Articles by Lindsey Barton Straus, JD

Mouthguards become highly contaminated with bacteria, yeast and mold with use and should be sanitized in an antimicrobrial solution between uses, recommends a new study by researchers at Oklahoma State University.

Wyoming's youth sports concussion safety law (Chapter 190) was signed into law by the governor on March 10, 2011. Unlike stronger concussion laws passed in other states, the Wyoming law does not, among other things, require removal of athletes from games or practices if they are suspected to have suffered a concussion, or require medical clearance before return to play.

A weak youth sports concussion safety law (Chapter 294) was signed into law by the governor of Idaho on April 11, 2010.

In March 2011, Utah governor Hebert signed the state's Protection of Athletes with Head Injuries Act into law requiring amateur youth sports organizations to adopt a concussion policy, provide the policy to parents, obtain their written consent before an athlete is allowed to participate, and establishing removal and return to play rules.

On March 22, 2011, Colorado governor signed the Jake Snakenberg Youth Concussion Act. The law is the first in the country to extend coverage to athletes as young as age 11.  It not only covers public and private school athletes but those on private youth sports clubs as well.

Baseball pitchers who play for multiple teams with overlapping seasons are at increased risk of injury from exceeding mandatory or recommended pitch limits. 

If your child is a pitcher, he/she has about a fifty-fifty chance of experiencing pain in his/her elbow or shoulder during his/her baseball career.

There are a number of steps baseball parents, coaches and athletes can take before practices and games to reduce the risk of injury.

There are some steps parents can take even before the season begins to reduce the risk that their child will be injured playing youth baseball.