Category: Health and Safety

While young athletes gain a variety of positive mental health benefits from playing sports, pressures from highly competitive play can also pose mental health challenges. Listen in as ‘Winning Is…

Written by Mallory Adamson from Yardstik, TeamSnap’s new partner for background checks   So, you’ve made it this far in this playbook series (please check out part 1 and part…

Written by Mallory Adamson from Yardstik, TeamSnap’s new partner for background checks   In the world of background screening (like most things in life), it’s easy to get tunnel vision….

Written by Mallory Adamson from Yardstik, TeamSnap’s new partner for background checks As the organization administrator, imagine you’re in the shoes of a parent who is, for the first time,…

The most important job of a youth sports coach is keeping kids safe. This role goes far beyond just motivating your players, coaches are responsible to prepare for any unknowns….

As the New Year kicks off, it’s the perfect time to take a look at your family routine and think about potential positive changes and habits you can build into…

Yoga is a fun, easy, and beneficial practice for young athletes. It builds core strength, improves balance and body awareness, and aids in recovery. Yoga helps athletes to notice the…

On Wednesday, October 20th, TeamSnap presented at the Aspen Institute’s 2021 Project Play Summit. This event is the nation’s premier event for leaders building healthy communities through sports. Joined by…

Proper hydration is important for day-to-day life but also plays a critical role in the physical performance of athletes of all ages. During their sports season, kids are often playing…

So you want to get your kids involved in sports but don’t know where to start? Like most things parenting-related, there’s no hard and fast roadmap for what to do,…

  With our worlds being shaken up for the past 4+ months, one thing is certain: People are ready to get back to sports.  Kids are excited to get out…

If you’re a hockey parent, spring means helping your kids balance hockey games and practices with tryouts, registrations, renewing USA Hockey memberships, and to top it all off, the approaching…

During a trying year, one moment seemingly everyone was excited for was flipping the calendar to 2021. Where 2020 had denied us so many of our simple pleasures, 2021 promised…

We did it! We made it to 2021! And while we think it’s safe to say most won’t look fondly back at 2020, watching the sports community come together in…

New Year’s resolutions can be hard to keep but habits? They’re doable–and science proves it. Here are four habits for every young athlete and ways to make them stick.

As we head into the New Year, we’re also heading into another season of uncertainty. Many coaches and sports organizers may face the challenges of the pandemic for the first…

For many youth sports families, the holidays usually present the challenge of balancing sports activities and family events. But 2020 has altered the “normal” for everyone; some of you may…

The days are getting shorter, the wind is getting chillier, and most sports are entering the off-season. Practicing health and wellness in the winter in order to stay healthy for…

As we navigate the age of COVID-19, many have suffered from the restrictions and lockdowns. Kids are among those who have felt the worst affects. Schools were shut down, sports…

I said this a little less than a month ago, and I will say it again today. Thank you. This milestone of 5 million health checks administered is a testament…

The Right Tools and Planning Youth sports continue to reopen, but attending as a spectator may come down to following smart etiquette. Coaches need to not only have a strong…

“The majority of families were excited and itching to get back on the ice and back playing hockey.” I’m sure this statement by Eric Bernal, President of Richmond Jets MHA,…

COVID-19 has given “normal” a different look for youth sports this fall. However, one thing that must not change is the diligent attention to concussions in athletics. First and foremost,…

It’s been less than 2 months since we launched TeamSnap Health Check free to all users and we have officially administered over 3 million screenings.  That’s 3 million times that…

Summer may be ending but youth sports continue to reopen. The cooler weather will bring more sports and see many moving indoors. Now that there’s been some time to feel…

A concussion can be caused by a blow, bump or jolt to the head, or by any fall or hit that jars the brain. Once your child has been diagnosed…

“It can be done.” Mike Handell, President of the New York Bluebirds youth baseball and softball organization, continued to make this statement as he discussed his organization’s return to play. …

Whether your kids are training for sports or spending the day lounging at home, providing them with the right foods will fuel their day and promote growth. Certain nutrients are…

As individual activities have become more popular during social distancing, skateboarding participation, which has remained steady since 2013, could see an increase this summer. Skateboarding is an extreme sport, and…

Subject: <INSERT ORG. NAME> Coronavirus Update Dear <INSERT ORG. NAME> Players and Families: We will continue to monitor the developments of the Coronavirus and update our policies and guidelines as…

Sports like tennis, soccer, cheerleading and even certain track and swim disciplines challenge your body in similar ways: They all involve bursts of power over extended periods of time. Physiologically…

Try these activities to keep your kids engaged and active during the pandemic. Along with helping children learn how to read, how to talk and how to play well with…

Here at LeagueSide, we want to keep youth sports families informed and calm during the Coronavirus Epidemic. We’ve curated a few of the best articles and resources that we’ve seen…

Here at LeagueSide, we want to keep youth sports families informed and calm during the Coronavirus Epidemic. We’ve curated a few of the best articles that we’ve seen and summarized…

Let’s face it: Most track and fielders have experienced an injury at least once in their careers. These are the most common injuries faced by runners, and a guide to preventing them. 

School sports might hit pause, but that doesn’t mean your young athlete has to as well. Here are three ways to keep kids on their toes.

Every sports parent needs to be aware of concussion protocol and safety. Concussions are serious and should not be taken likely. If your child is playing sports this year–and any…

When can my child return to play after a concussion? It’s an unfortunate question sports parents may have to ask. And when it comes to concussions, you should not be…

If you ever watch sports, you’re bound to see players sipping on neon-colored drinks during a game. You may even see coaches get an ice bucket shower after a big…

The mercury has risen and here’s a hot truth: Summer can be fantastic for the soul, but hard on the feet. We’re talking flip flops and running in the sand–both…

Few health-related topics are discussed in the news today as frequently as sports-related concussions. Even still, misconceptions are widespread, and the most common facts remain largely unknown. In the youth…

Lately, Ken Dryden–Hall of Fame goaltender, former Canadian Member of Parliament and acclaimed author–has been talking about the problem of head injuries in hockey. He’s appeared on radio programs and…

It’s game day. Your young athlete has been practicing for this day for a long time. To ensure they play their best they need the proper fuel. What are the…

Running–and sprinting in particular–is a fundamental skill that supports a multitude of other activities. If you know how to sprint properly, you’re more likely to enjoy a wide range of…

Ever heard of tennis elbow? If you Google it, you might get coude de tennis. In French, that literally means “an elbow that is tennis,” which makes absolutely no sense. No matter…

Sports are a fantastic way for young people to exercise, develop self-confidence and make new friends. But contact sports present the danger of concussions and head injuries. It’s not that…

While the age of specialization in youth sports has created more skilled athletes entering high school, it also has caused a rash of overuse injuries. Training the same movements continuously…

Anytime we as parents register our children for any kind of sports activity, there’s always a little voice in the back of our heads warning us of potential dangers. Bumps,…

Baseball is a relatively low-impact sport that can still cause a broad range of injuries if players aren’t carefully prepared. From pulled muscles in the arms to head injuries, players…

Warming up is an essential part of practice. When designing a warmup for your team, be sure to keep these three principles in mind. First, stay under five minutes. Second,…

There are at least 38 million young athletes participating in sports in the United States each year. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that five to 10 percent of athletes…

Teaching young athletes basic strength-building moves is one of the most important things we do as coaches. In my last post, I discussed how a simple tweak in push-up form…

In recent years, more attention than ever has turned toward concussions, and parents of young athletes are–and should be–concerned about this often overlooked and underestimated injury. According to the Centers…

It’s official: Concussions can be tricky to diagnose during a game. There are obvious cases where players show classic symptoms of disorientation, dizziness and loss of memory. But there are also borderline…

I’m a big believer in using practice time to teach young athletes basic strength exercises. Youth practices are often a kid’s first formal exposure to strength training. As a coach,…

Let’s say that three months from now you check off your New Year’s resolution of losing 20 pounds through better eating and more exercise. As you enjoy your celebratory DQ Blizzard,…

This post is by Paige Decker from the The Invisible Injury. In November of 2013, while playing for Yale’s Women’s Ice Hockey Team, she suffered a head injury that then only…

Part 2 of 3 – This post is by Paige Decker from the The Invisible Injury. In November of 2013, while playing for Yale’s Women’s Ice Hockey Team, she suffered a head…

Part 1 of 3 – This post is by Paige Decker from the The Invisible Injury. In November of 2013, while playing for Yale’s Women’s Ice Hockey Team, she suffered…

In the field of athletics, a common dialogue of coaches, administrators, athletes and the media surrounds player safety and concussions. Although the majority of concussions are not associated with a…

It used to be that concussions were something you only had to worry about if you were a football player or an elite athlete. But in December, reports indicated that concussions…

If you were looking for signs that your kids were physically literate, what would you look for? In the simplest sense, physical literacy means your kids have good movement skills….

Summertime means a summer break, right? Well, maybe not for everybody. If you’re a summer sport coach or your young athlete is playing a sport this summer, your schedule is…

Everyone seems to have a story that goes something like this: their friend started lifting at 12, and now, as an adult, their friend has back pains. But guess what? For…

Click here to read part 1 of The ACL Epidemic in Sports. Last week, you were introduced to TJ, a high school football player whose sophomore season was ended by…

“It was nine seconds into the game that I got to carry the ball for the first time.” And as he had done so many times that season, TJ, the…

Our 15 year old son has loved soccer since he could walk and has been playing for over 10 years. He has been blessed with amazing coaches and great teammates….

Experiencing a concussion is a difficult thing to describe. There are obvious symptoms, but it’s the hidden ones that scare me the most. The truth is that experiencing a concussion…

I played contact football at all levels possible, including the pros. Did I have many concussions? Dunno. I can’t remember. So, I forced myself to go to see Concussion.  Concussions are such…

A few years ago while I was teaching a karate class at my gym, a mother and her son arrived for the youngster’s first private karate lesson. As they sat…

By Istvan Balyi and Jim Grove So many parents dream about their children becoming superstar hockey players, or figure skaters, or basketball players. And one question that often generates heated…

Although every athlete is concerned about staying safe, few sports present the same dangers as hockey. With high-speed gameplay and potential for errant sticks or pucks, there’s a degree of…

I have a confession. I used to be an exercise bulimic. When I was 11 years old, did I know what drove me to practice so much? Of course not. Taking my…

Let’s face it: most athletes, particularly teenage athletes, are mentally under-trained. While they might acknowledge that the mind is important to their sport, they don’t always have a plan to…

No matter your sport or age, anyone who’s ever played has felt those pre-game “butterflies” in their stomach. Some of us also get the sweats even before we set foot…

You may already know how important physical literacy is without even recognizing the term. Physical literacy refers to a blend of movement skills, physical awareness, cognitive understandings and general attitudes…

How to use technology to keep your sanity on a travel team trip This is a collaborative article written by TeamSnap and MamaBear All-star games and travel team trips define…

At the youth level, there is no professional grounds crew – just coaches, parents and players responsible for keeping the fields watered, free of debris, lined and ready for play….

Sports injuries are a risk to any athlete–regardless of age–the moment they step onto the field or court. Injuries can range from the slight to the severe but almost always…

Athletes of all ages require a variety of physical, mental and nutritional routines to achieve and retain peak performance condition. As yoga continues to gain popularity in the western world,…

Having asthma, doesn’t mean you can’t play sports! Being an asthma sufferer for most of my life, I’ve gone through just about every kind of treatment ever known. I’ve been hospitalized…

Growing up, you might have thought P.E. class was nothing more than a period to get out of the classroom and run around cutting up with your friends. But the…

Participating in a sport is supposed to be fun. In fact, a recent survey conducted by the American Psychological Association estimates that 9 percent of all children use sports to help manage…

As many Americans who love soccer did on Thursday, I eagerly awaited the announcement of this year’s 23-player roster for this summer’s World Cup. And, along with so many others,…

By Jen Lesea, M.S., CSCS, TeamSnap’s Guest Writer on Nutrition and Health and Founder of FitWise Training. As the soccer season begins, all youth soccer players are excited to start playing again….

By Claire Gaunt, guest writer and biology and nutritional science specialist. Growing kids who take part in sports require a range of nutrients for growth. When it comes to minerals, the…

By Dan Peterson, TeamSnap’s Guest Writer about sports science and skill development for young athletes. Ask a group of grade school students to name their favorite class and the overwhelming and…

Kimberly Brooke Pengel, M.D., is board certified in both Pediatrics and Pediatric Sports Medicine. Do your children know to come inside when they are playing in a thunderstorm?  Do you…

A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog on the heightened awareness of concussions and brain injuries (“A Concussion Epidemic?” November 5, 2012), focusing on youth football. In the blog,…