Newswise — The National Youth Sports Health & Safety Institute (NYSHSI) announces its launch of a Seal of Best Practices and encourages all Youth Sports Organizations to adopt and implement the Seal’s elements to provide a safer and more enjoyable sport environment for all program participants.

NYSHSI is a national institute of sports medicine and science professionals, as part of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) in partnership with Sanford Health, which is committed to youth health, wellness, and fitness through sports and other physical activity. The Seal reflects the Institute’s ideals of enhancing the experience, development, health and safety of our youth in sports.

Youth Sports Organizations can strengthen and distinguish their programs by becoming an NYSHSI Best Practices Partner simply by agreeing online with a commitment to implementing the following three essential elements:

1. Provide annual education to all coaches via “fact-to-face”, timely and up-to-date handouts and other materials, and/or recognized professional Internet-based education2. Develop, implement and rehearse an emergency action plan 3. Have their coaches read and distribute the NYSHSI Parent Pledge to all parents to read with their kids and sign

After completing and submitting the requested information and checklist, organizations will receive via e-mail an NYSHSI Best Practices Partner certificate.

“We’ve made it simple and achievable,” says Dr. Michael Bergeron, Executive Director, NYSHSI. “Implementing these three elements would be a big step forward in positively enhancing the safety and experience of the kids. It also shows parents that their kids’ safety, health and enjoyment are priorities.”

For additional details on the National Youth Sports Health & Safety Institute and the Seal of Best Practices, visit www.nyshsi.org.

To request an expert source for your story, contact:Annie Spencer[email protected]317.637.9200 ext. 133American College of Sports MedicineCommunications & Public Information Manager ### The National Youth Sports Health & Safety Institute will be the recognized leader and advocate for advancing and disseminating the latest research and evidence-based education, recommendations and policy to enhance the experience, development, health and safety of our youth in sports. The American College of Sports Medicine is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world. More than 45,000 international, national and regional members and certified professionals are dedicated to advancing and integrating scientific research to provide educational and practical applications of exercise science and sports medicine. Sanford Health is an integrated health system headquartered in the Dakotas and is now the largest rural, not-for-profit health care system in the nation with locations in 126 communities in nine states. In addition, Sanford Health is in the process of developing international clinics in Ghana, Israel and Mexico. Sanford Health includes 39 hospitals, 225 clinic locations and 1,360 physicians in 81 specialty areas of medicine.

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