Brooke de Lench

The practice of cutting athletes from middle or high school teams, while it has existed for at least fifty years, is arguably the most controversial practice in youth sports. While the arguments proponents advance in favor of cutting are well-known, the practice is outmoded and needs to be re-examined in light of twenty-first century realities.

Because one of the keys to keeping athletes safe when it comes to concussion is education, a concussion education and safety meeting should be held for parents and athletes should be held before every season. Ideally, the meeting should include presentations by medical doctors, former athletes, and parents of concussed current or former athletes.

With pre-season practices beginning around the country for fall sports such as football and soccer which have high concussion rates, it is important for parents and athletes to be on the same page as the coaches and medical staff on the subject of concussions. The best way is for the coach to hold a concussion education and safety meeting for parents and athletes before every season.

MomsTeam.com founder and editor-in-chief, Brooke de Lench, talks about how MomsTeam got started and its plans for the future.

What serves mothers so well as sports parents is their natural protectiveness, nurturing instinct, emotional openness, and their belief in the importance of fair play, cooperation, connectedness, inclusiveness and the value of doing one's best over winning and competition.  Here are 8 ways moms can use their special gifts to help their child - and all children - have the best possible sports experience.

Are you trying to decide whether and when to let your child start playing sports , try out for a competitive travel team or begin specializing in a single sport? Are you considering pulling your child off a team because you sense tjhat your child is at risk of emotional or sexual abuse by the coach? My advice is to trust your intuition.