History
The NCSS was founded by renowned orthopaedic surgeon Lawrence J. Lemak, M.D. in 2001 to promote the importance of injury prevention and safety on all levels of youth sports through education and research.
The vision of the NCSS is to standardize the level of care available to athletes on and off the playing field. By educating youth coaches in sports safety techniques and skills, they will gain the knowledge and confidence to prevent and respond to injuries and emergency situations appropriately until professional help arrives.
In 2004, the NCSS in conjunction with the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA), launched a comprehensive sports safety course called PREPARE. The course, which is available online at www.SportsSafety.org, is targeted at volunteer coaches and parents, many of whom have no formal training and need the basics in sports safety education. PREPARE covers everything from minor blisters and ankle sprains to life-threatening head and neck injuries. In approximately two-three hours, coaches and parents learn vital skills that could help save a child's life.
“This movement to ‘raise the standard’ is so important to keep our youth athletes healthy and safe,” says Lawrence J. Lemak, M.D., founder of the NCSS. “There is not one parent that would drop their child off at a local community pool if there were not a certified lifeguard on duty. That same standard of care should be available for every sports facility in this country. If we can prevent just one fatality or injury, it will be worth the effort.” adds Lemak.
For more information, call the NCSS at 866-508-NCSS
or visit them online at www.SportsSafety.org.