Guide to Keep Kids Safe On and Off the Field

Keeping kids safe is a top priority and fundamental piece of our mission to get more kids involved in sports

National Center for Safety Initiatives (NCSI) is a youth safety advocacy group and leading background screening provider that serves youth sports and civic organizations and national governing bodies across the country.

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Presented by

Trish Sylvia, co-founder of NCSI shares how using today's technology can simplify and enhance safety in youth sports

SafeSport Training Puts You in Play to Support Athlete Safety

by Guest Post

July 12, 2023

The right training can make all the difference in recognizing, preventing, and responding to abuse and misconduct in sport…
Protecting Youth Athletes from Abuse—Key Actions for Parents and Coaches

by Guest Post

April 12, 2023

These materials for youth and high school sports parents and coaches can help prevent sex abuse.
Babe Ruth League Nationally Recognized for Commitment to More Rigorous Background Checks

by Sean Jensen

August 07, 2020

Babe Ruth League won the STRIVE (Sports Teach Respect, Initiative, Values and Excellence) Organization of the Year award

Sport Injury and Prevention Guides

The National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS) seeks to train and educate coaches, educators and family members to ensure that young people participate in a safe environment so they get all of the benefits associated with youth sports. Read more by NCYS

Football Sports Tips Hero Image from PDF

Regardless of position, football players should consider have their technique examined sports medicine professional.

Lacrosse Sports Tips Hero Image from PDF

Regardless of position, lacrosse players should consider have their technique examined sports medicine professional.

Regardless of position, ice hockey players should consider have their technique examined sports medicine professional.

Regardless of position, soccer players should consider have their technique examined sports medicine professional.

Softball Sports Tips Hero Image from PDF

Regardless of position, softball players should consider have their technique examined sports medicine professional.

Volleyball Sports Tips Hero Image from PDF

Regardless of position, volleyball players should consider have their technique examined sports medicine professional.

Basketball Sports Tips Hero Image from PDF

Regardless of position, basketball players should consider have their technique examined sports medicine professional.

Baseball Sports Tips Hero Image from PDF

Regardless of position, baseball players should consider have their technique examined sports medicine professional.

Building a Safer Future for Youth Sports

Promote abuse-free sport settings with these resources and articles from the U.S. Center for SafeSport.

Parents, coaches, and sport and recreation administrators can take cues from our policies aimed at preventing abuse in and around sport.

Talk to Young Athletes About Abuse, Misconduct

Dive into two trainings from the U.S. Center for SafeSport that can help parents, kids start these important conversations.

SafeSport Training Puts You in Play to Support Athlete Safety

The right training can make all the difference in recognizing, preventing, and responding to abuse and misconduct in sport settings.

An Informed Response to Abuse and Misconduct Can Help Protect Athletes

Everyone can learn about response protocols, how to report, and what to do when abuse is disclosed

Learn How to Prevent Emotional & Physical Abuse and Misconduct in Sport

Building healthy relationships and modeling positive behavior set the tone for an abuse-free sport environment.

Recognizing Abuse and Misconduct Is the First Step in Addressing It

Athletes deserve abuse-free environments. U.S. Center for SafeSport resources help coaches, admins and volunteers spot harmful behavior.

Discover how the U.S. Center for SafeSport is working to build and enforce safer environments in youth sports.

Athletes Come First at Chaparral Wrestling Club

Watch this short story for a firsthand account of how the U.S. Center for SafeSport has supported Chaparral Wrestling Club in fostering a positive environment for anyone who gets on the mat.

Tips to Help Sports Leaders Build Inclusive Environments

To get the best out of your team or organization, you should create a dynamic that helps every athlete feel safe, supported, and strengthened.

What Sport Administrators Should Know: Policies That Prevent Abuse

Discover why building policies to prevent abuse and strong safety rules are critical for any sport organization.

Learn how this new podcast will help you take action to reduce bullying’s prevalence and impact as we recognize National Bullying Prevention Month.

Coaches: to Build Team Trust, Tune in to Your Athletes’ Moods

Coaches: Caretakers of Character Do sports build character in young athletes, or simply reveal it? Learn how our latest podcast can help you assess.

Get the Gold Standard of Background Checks

Protect your athletes, families, and organization with industry-leading background checks from the National Center for Safety Initiatives

Protect your athletes

Concussion Care and Prevention

A hockey player may have a concussion after a check from an opposing player.

To reduce the likelihood of players lying so they can stay in the game, be sure to emphasize the importance of honesty and how the number one priority is their long-term safety.

Find out 10 ways to to help athletes combat a negative team concussion culture

Returning to Learning After a Concussion thumbnail

Study shows about 300,000 youth athletes suffer concussions each year

Child at pediatricians office holding ice pack on his head with mother and doctor in room. Little boy using cold compress in medical exam room receiving first aid

As a coach or parent, do you know the signs that indicate that a player has been concussed?

A concussed soccer player seeks help at the doctors office

What actions can an organization take to reduce their liability?

Why is Rest Important After a Concussion thumbnail

Portrait of senior chiropractor consult sports athlete's neck injury.

Coaches should also give information to the parents regarding the signs and symptoms of concussion so they can monitor their child at home.

It’s important to educate both athletes and parents about the facts

What is Post Concussion Syndrome thumbnail

After so many years of high profile news around concussions it is encouraging to see scientific evidence about reducing the risk of head impacts in ice hockey.

All time ready to run. Runner sleep in comfort run shoes

Getting a good night's sleep after a sports-related concussion might lead to a shorter recovery time in adolescents

More Safety Articles

Newer research shows that some prior recommendations, including prolonged periods of rest, were not helpful for recovery from concussions.

Protect Sport: Blow the Whistle on Abuse and Misconduct

Learn how referees and officials are in a unique position to help create abuse-free sport settings for everyone.

Young coach teaching kids on football field.

SportsEngine and SafeSport partner to make safety the top priority in youth sports.

Sport for Kids. Young ice hockey players.

Hear from Casey Jorgensen, General Counsel with USA Hockey, and the National Center for Safety Initiatives (NCSI) to discuss the decade-long partnership and its emphasis on safety in youth hockey.

It’s essential that parents, coaches, and youth sports administrators are mindful of best safety practices to protect student-athletes.

Cheerful rugby players doing a fist bump

Do Your Part to Help Keep Children Safe - Understanding the Importance of Background Checks

Girl wearing blue soccer pinny after practice and looking down at her phone

The U.S. Center for SafeSport guides parents and coaches across America on diverse athlete safety topics—like how to respond if your child discloses abuse.

What are South Carolina SLED background checks missing?

Make sure your organization isn't cutting corners on background screenings.

Coach_Background_Checks_in_Youth_Sports_large

Tips for helping your youth sports organization find a background check that meets your standards.

Everyone can learn about response protocols, how to report, and what to do when abuse is disclosed

Back view of a female soccer, football, coach in white coach shirt watching her team play at an outdoor football field

A quick guide for directing your applicants to the correct place for their background check applications

Learn how this new podcast will help you take action to reduce bullying’s prevalence and impact as we recognize National Bullying Prevention Month.

Discounted screenings often ignore local databases that can be costly to mine for information

Trish Sylvia, co-founder of NCSI shares how using today's technology can simplify and enhance safety in youth sports

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Organization Administrators

Safety

Presented by

How Technology Can Reshape The Way We Look at Safety in Youth Sports

June 02, 2023

SafeSport Training Puts You in Play to Support Athlete Safety

by Guest Post

July 12, 2023

Protecting Youth Athletes from Abuse—Key Actions for Parents and Coaches

by Guest Post

April 12, 2023

Babe Ruth League Nationally Recognized for Commitment to More Rigorous Background Checks

by Sean Jensen

August 07, 2020

Sport Injury and Prevention Guides

Football Injuries and Prevention

April 14, 2022

Lacrosse Injuries and Prevention

April 14, 2022

Hockey Injuries and Prevention

April 14, 2022

Soccer Injuries and Prevention

April 14, 2022

Softball Injuries and Prevention

April 14, 2022

Volleyball Injuries and Prevention

April 14, 2022

Basketball Injuries and Prevention

April 14, 2022

Baseball Injuries and Prevention

March 28, 2022

Building a Safer Future for Youth Sports

Promoting Safer Youth Sport Settings

March 07, 2022

Talk to Young Athletes About Abuse, Misconduct

August 10, 2023

SafeSport Training Puts You in Play to Support Athlete Safety

July 12, 2023

An Informed Response to Abuse and Misconduct Can Help Protect Athletes

June 07, 2023

Learn How to Prevent Emotional & Physical Abuse and Misconduct in Sport

May 01, 2023

Recognizing Abuse and Misconduct Is the First Step in Addressing It

April 13, 2023

Building a Positive Sport Culture

February 10, 2023

Athletes Come First at Chaparral Wrestling Club

January 19, 2023

Tips to Help Sports Leaders Build Inclusive Environments

December 07, 2022

What Sport Administrators Should Know: Policies That Prevent Abuse

October 13, 2022

How To Prevent Bullying, On and Off the Field

October 13, 2022

To Build Team Trust, Tune in to Your Athletes’ Moods

September 01, 2022

Get the Gold Standard of Background Checks

Concussion Care and Prevention

Common Signs and Symptoms of Concussions

November 05, 2018

The Top 10 Reasons Players Don't Report a Concussion

November 25, 2020

Returning to Learning After a Concussion

December 08, 2020

Heads Up: Concussion Stats Reveal Surprising Numbers

August 03, 2018

Recognizing the Symptoms of a Concussion

March 18, 2018

Reducing Liability for Concussion-Related Lawsuits: Document Your Training and Education