Safety in Youth Sports

Park and Recreation professionals likely agree about the health benefits of youth sports, but is enough consideration given to keeping youth sports safe? The issue of safety encompasses many topics across youth sports - concussions, heat safety, cardiac emergencies, equipment and facility safety, and overuse injuries to name a few. Over the next few issues of the PRPS E-Newsletter, this column will focus on topics related to safety in youth sports. This issue will address the topic of sudden cardiac arrest.

Are youth sports administrators and coaches doing enough to protect athletes and placing athlete wellbeing at the top of the priority list? What should be done and who is responsible for doing it? The adage "It takes a village to raise a child" may be appropriately modified to "It takes a village to keep young athletes safe". In this sense, we are all responsible.

At the local, state, and national levels, people are taking notice of the risks young athletes are exposed to, and taking steps to minimize these risks and train people how to respond to emergencies. Just yesterday (5/30/12), Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett signed the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act into law, establishing standards for preventing sudden cardiac arrest and death in school based student athletes. This act touches on four stages of cardiac emergency risk:

1)      Education:

1. Distribution of educational materials to student-athlete parents about the nature and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest and the risks associated with continuing to play or practice after experiencing the following symptoms: fainting, difficulty breathing, chest pains, dizziness and abnormal racing heart rate.
2. A parent/guardian is required to sign an acknowledgement of receipt and review of the sudden cardiac arrest symptoms and warning sign information sheet.
3. Once each school year, a coach of an athletic activity shall complete the sudden cardiac arrest training course offered by a provider approved by the Department of Health.

2)      Prevention:

1. Student-athletes who are known to have exhibited signs or symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest at any time prior to or following an athletic activity are prevented from participating in an athletic activity.

3)      Response:

1. If during play, a student athlete who, as determined by a game official, coach, certified athletic trainer, license physician or other official designated by the student's school entity, exhibits signed or symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest while participating in an activity shall be removed from participation at that time.

4)      Follow-Through

1. The student shall not return to participation in an athletic activity until the student is evaluated and cleared for return to participation by a licensed physician or certified registered nurse practitioner, or cardiologist.  

The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act goes into effect in 60 days. While this act applies specifically to school sanctioned and school-affiliated athletic activities, it has the potential to affect recreation programs that are administratively housed within school districts. How will these programs respond? Further, it is highly relevant to youth participation in recreation and park sponsored activities, and should be looked to as a guide for recreation programs to improve youth sports safety.

Many recreation programs require waivers or "release of claims" to be signed by parents/guardians. But do any recreation agencies provide materials targeted toward educating parents of the specific risk of participation, and the warning signs and symptoms of specific types of health emergencies? Are the youth sports coaches require to become certified in recognizing and responding to emergencies? If the answer is no, recreation program administrators should strongly consider implementing these steps. Further, park and recreation agencies that host outside sports league to do the same. Take action today to save a young life. Educate. Prevent. Respond. Follow-Through. Doing so may save a life.

SAVE THE DATE!

The Road to Making a Difference Starts with PRPS!

66th Annual PRPS Conference

March 23-27, 2013

Hershey Lodge, Hershey, PA

 Click here for the conference session proposal form.

Have a young professional in your agency??

Again this year, the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration again this year will offer a wonderful opportunity for outstanding young professionals to further their professional development by enabling them to attend the 2012 NRPA Annual Congress. Last year, New York's Tom Venniro was one of our externship scholars, and thoroughly enjoyed his experience in Atlanta.

The Academy's 2012 Young Professional Externships cover the cost of NRPA Annual Congress registration and provide a $750 stipend toward lodging and transportation costs. During the conference, the Externs also participate in Academy meetings and events and are mentored by Academy members. Four Externships are awarded, including two Ernest T. Atwell Diversity Externships for ethnic minority applicants. Young professionals, 35 years old and younger, are encouraged to apply by the June 22 deadline. Additional information and application forms are attached to this email, and available online at www.aapra.org or from Academy Externship Committee Chair Andy Kimmel at akimmel@LCFPD.org.

2012 Young Professional Application  

2012 Young Professional Externship Program

Non-PRPS Trainings

2012 Summer Pest Walk

June 27, 2012  10:00 a.m. to 12 noon and 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Jenkins Arboretum and Gardens

631 Berwyn Baptist Road Devon, PA 19333

Join us at Jenkins Arboretum and Gardens for a day of education and discovery.  Jenkins Arboretum and Gardens' 46 acres includes a visitor's center, trails, a pond and stream, native trees, shrubs and wildflowers, azalea and rhododendron collections, a woodland garden featuring many spring ephemerals, and much more.  Like any garden, there are unique management challenges here. Preserving the native species and keeping on top of invasives are just two obstacles encountered here. It is a great time of year to see the gardens, sharpen your professional skills, and learn "hands-on" tips to help manage pests in any setting.

Be advised: the terrain is hilly and it is a long climb back up the hill!

CHOOSE ONE MORNING SESSION: ($20 PER PERSON)

10:00 to 12:00 noon

POND WEED MANAGEMENT WALK

Instructor: Mr. Randy Heffner, Aquascapes Unlimited, Pipersville, PA

Learn how to identify and manage pond weeds. Discussion will include cultural and chemical controls, and prevention.

Pesticide credits:  4 in Categories 9, 18, and PC

ISA CEU's available

OR

ARBORETUM TOUR

Instructor: Ms. Maggie Knapp, Jenkins Arboretum

Enjoy the diversity of Jenkins Arboretum. Tour features native plantings, azalea collections, moss gardens, and more! Learn how to identify and culture some native gems.

Pesticide credit: 1 core

ISA CEU's available

12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. LUNCH ON YOUR OWN

1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

PEST WALK ($20 PER PERSON)

Instructors: Greg Hoover, Penn State Entomologist; and Gary Moorman, Penn State Plant Pathologist.

Examine insects and diseases with the experts. Learn tips for identification, management, and in-depth discussion of pest biology.

Pesticide credits: 4 in Categories 5, 06, 18, 23, and PC

ISA CEU's available

RAIN OR SHINE! DRESS APPROPRIATELY and  BRING YOUR HAND LENS.

For more information and to download the brochure, go to http://extension.psu.edu/greenindustry/events/2012-summer-pest-walk-at-jenkins-arboretum

For registration questions, please contact Dawn Knepp at 610-378-1327.

For questions about course content, please contact Nancy Bosold at 610-378-1327. 

Backyard Stewardship Workshop

Saturday June 16th, 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM

Schuylkill Township Building / 111 Valley Park Road / Phoenixville, PA

Cost:    $55 includes textbook, notebook, course, light morning fare, lunch, and 1 or 2 backyard site visits, dates to be determined.

Who should attend:  Any homeowner, gardener, teacher, land owner who is interested in helping the environment

Register:                Email or call Mary Ellen Heisey  tchmeh1@comcast.net  610.935.7701

More information:    http://pa.audubon.org/bird-town

Schuylkill Township has agreed to be a Pennsylvania Bird Town. The workshop is part of the program. "Bird Town is a working partnership of Audubon and municipalities in Pennsylvania to promote conservation and community-based actions to create a healthy, more sustainable environment for birds and people." Birds are a good indicator of our environmental health, because we see and hear them every day. It's a program to create a culture of conservation and help us all become better stewards of our backyards and community lands. 

APWA Sustainability in Public Works Conference 

June 25-27, 2012 

Pittsburgh, PA

Register today at www.apwa.net/sustainability 

Sunday, August 26, 1 - 4 pm

Leader: Dr. Susan Munch, Professor of Botany, Albright College and author of Outstanding Mosses and Liverworts of Pennsylvania and Nearby States

Meets at Flint Woods Preserve

Fall Fruiting Shrubs and Trees: Planting for the Fall Songbird Migration

Saturday, September 22, 2012 9 am - Noon

Leaders: Eileen Boyle, Education Coordinator, Mt. Cuba Center, and Joe Sebastiani 

Meets at the Mt. Cuba Center   

The Positive Coaching Alliance has some tips for all of you coaches out there ~

Coach/Parent Partnership

The following guidelines can contribute to a Coach/Parent Partnership that help your child have the best possible sports experience:

• Recognize the commitment the coach has made: Remember that the coach spends many hours of preparation beyond practices and games.
• Let the coach coach: It can be confusing for a child to hear someone other than the coach yelling instructions.
• Don't put the player in the middle: It's all too common for parents to share their disapproval of a coach with their children. Seek a meeting with coaches if you think they aren't handling a situation well.

• Observe a "cooling off" period: Emotions often run high -- wait a day or two before discussing your frustrations with the coach.

Respecting Officials

 We Honor the Game by respecting officials simply because it's the right thing to do. A Double-Goal Coach® shows respect by his or her tone and body language, even when disagreeing with an official's call. A Double-Goal Coach does not yell or publicly disagree with officials, especially if there is any danger of parents or fans getting out of control. Coaches should never add fuel to the fire.

One way to approach officials with respect is to wait until a break in the action and then to ask, "What did you see on that play?" This may give the official a chance to further explain the situation without feeling defensive or threatened.

A Double-Goal Coach models respect by shaking hands with the officials and thanking them before and after games. Showing respect will even help the officials to do their jobs better.