Intelligence or Wisdom.

One of my favorite stories is told on the first day of class by a Yale Professor I knew while coaching at the esteemed Ivy League school. It goes like this. "A Yale student was driving through an inner city street when his Porsche's tire went flat. He pulled over to the side of the street and called AAA for road side assistance. After an hour, when no one responded, he decided to change the tire himself. He struggled with the jack and finally got the car lifted so that he could remove the wheel. He removed the lug nuts and sat them on the ground. When he placed the spare tire on and reached for the lug nuts, he realized he accidentally had kicked them down the curb drain. He began to loudly curse his bad luck. An old timer who was busy collecting bottles and cans stopped to ask him why he was upset. When he explained his dilemma, the old guy said "The solution is easy. You just need to remove one lug nut off each of the other wheels and put them on the empty one and drive home." The student said, "I don't understand.  I have a perfect SAT score and you're a street guy. How did you figure that out?" The old fellow said, "well I may not be a Yalie, but I am not stupid!"  The Professor sent a message loud and clear.  "It is everyday simple; intelligence is different from wisdom. Your intelligence will not get you any further than your wisdom in my class!" 

Raising children is very difficult and we are all doing that in American Youth Football and Cheer. What does AYF and AYC National staff know about children? Well, let's count 'em up; Joe has five and eleven grandchildren. Craig has five, Elizabeth has two, Dee has three, Tammy has six and three grandchildren, Shannon has three. I assure you we ask those three key questions often. Please ask these questions to your organization's youth. 

All of us at AYF and AYC owe each child's family our help and wisdom. AYF and AYC are obligated to share that gift of wisdom to their most precious possession - their children. We do not teach a sport - we teach children.  If we teach children to stop and think, we will save them and nurture their potential to succeed.  We are at war for the minds of our children. We can stop the violence. We can stop the hate. We can stop the cheating. But it will take wisdom.

Brain Injury Risk Management Major Topic At 2015 Leadership Conference

Sadler Sports Insurance introduced its new Concussion / Brain Injury Risk Management Program template for local AYF/AYC organizations to adopt to reduce the risk of litigation arising from concussion and brain injury allegations. A copy of the document can be found at www.sadlersports.com/riskmanagement under the concussion resources section.

The important elements of this written program include:

Coach training through a basic online concussion education course through NAYS or CDC (free and 15 minute completion time) and a tackle training course through AYF TackleSure ($5.00). Completion of both required with retention of completion certificate.

Annual distribution of the CDC Concussion Information Fact sheet to all staff, players, and parents for review, signature, return, and retention.

Baseline neurocognitive testing is recommended.

Written policies and procedures on concussion recognition, removal from play, treatment by MD or DO, gradual return to play protocol, and medical clearance form signed by an MD or DO.

Limitations on contact at proactive is recommended in terms of days per week and hours per day.

Coach education on proper fitting of helmets.

In addition, all organizations should comply with their state's version of NFHS concussion brain injury recommendations and applicable state laws.

The adoption and implementation of an adequate, written concussion / brain injury risk management program is essential for reducing the risk of litigation.