The National Center for Sports Safety and Alabama State University have partnered together to offer the NCSS PREPARE sports safety course for free to all Alabama youth league coaches. This is the same course required for all Alabama high school and middle school coaches mandated by the Alabama High School Athletic Association.

The NCSS is a non-profit organization founded in 2001, by sports medicine orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Larry Lemak. Dr. Lemak and about 30 medical professional delegates from across the country developed the PREPARE course in 2004 to educate coaches on the basics of sports safety. PREPARE teaches everything from emergency planning to concussions, heat illness, seizures, and many other topics focusing on injury prevention, recognizing injuries, and stabilizing injuries until a medical professional arrives.

In August, Tommy Edwards, president of the Calera Little League, contacted the NCSS to take advantage of the opportunity to get all coaches within all Calera Little Leagues educated in the basics of sports safety. The class was held at the Calera Public Library and refreshments were provided by Jim ‘N’ Nicks Restaurant.

In August, the NCSS and ASU showed their appreciation to all Calera Little Leagues by giving a certificate of recognition to the youth coaches of Calera for participating and taking the initiative to get educated in sports safety and prioritizing the safety of their youth athletes.

To learn more about the NCSS/ASU sports safety project or to get your coaches educated in sports safety, please contact NCSS Associate Executive Director, Kathryn Gwaltney at 205-329-7535.