All Articles by Lindsey Barton Straus, JD

Some specific rules for fast-pitch softball vary by age, skill level and organization, but here are the basic rules.

One of the keys to preventing the spread of the antibiotic-resistant skin infection or "super bug" known as methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is proper identification and treatment of suspicious skin lesions.  The infection often looks like an ordinary skin wound or boil,  which may look harmless but rapidly develops into large abscesses within 24 to 48 hours. Diagnosis is difficult. Treatment with penicillin-related antibiotics is ineffective.

While skin infections, including MRSA, are reported most often in sports with frequent physical contact, skin contact or activities that may lead to the spread of MRSA skin infections may take place before or after participation in a sport with little physical contact.  Therefore, anyone participating in organized or recreational sports should be aware of the signs of possible skin infections and follow prevention measures.

Community-acquired or CA-MRSA is non-invasive, less dangerous than MRSA in hospital setting; no need for parents and athletes to panic.

Rehabilitation is the process of using exercise, manual therapy (massage and manipulation), and therapeutic devices, such as ultrasound and electrical stimulation, to help an injured athlete heal so they can return to sports. It is usually supervised by physical therapists, who recommend a set of exercises for the athlete to do at home to speed the recovery process by restoring range of motion, muscle strength, and aerobic fitness after an injury.

Advice on ways to prevent concussions and reduce the number of fatalities and catastrophic injuries in school sports such as football, soccer, ice hockey, swimming, diving, track and field, cheerleading, spirit and competitive cheer.

With today's slow economy, more and more families are looking for ways save money on their ski and snowboarding vacations without compromising the experience.  Here are seven money-saving tips.

Parents need to be proactive in order to minimize the risks that their child will suffer a concussion while playing sports and, more important, is not allowed to return to play too soon.