NCYS Executive Director on Voice of America
Listen to Executive Director Sally Johnson's Voice of America radio interview titled Keeping Kids Safe from Predators in Youth Sports on on Jim Meier's show called Championship Thinking. It's a one hour interview with four 15-minute segments.
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The NCYS Helps Keep Youth Sports Safe

NCYS - An Untiring Advocate for the Protection of Children

The National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS) - long known for tackling the big issues in youth sports - is an untiring advocate for the protection of children, and for eradicating criminal behavior in our organizations as well as society in order to make a positive difference for children of all backgrounds, genders, and economic diversities. In the spirit of keeping children safe by preventing, recognizing, and responding to situations both on and off the playing field, we hope all those who serve children will take on a responsible call to action to protect the children in youth-serving organizations and keep them safe.

Background Screening

National Center for Safety Initiatives

National Center for Safety Initiatives (NCSI) is the country's leading resource for background screening services for non-profit and youth serving organizations. NCSI was created in cooperation with the National Council of Youth Sports with the mission of eradicating harm and protecting organizations from loss and is 100% focused on helping organizations who serve Non-Profits, Youth and Vulnerable Populations.

NCSI is the choice of many of the greatest, most reputable sports organizations in the world including the United States Olympic Committee. The comprehensive background screening programs offered by NCSI have saved thousands of people from harm and millions of dollars in losses to organizations. NCSI is the only background screening company endorsed by National Council of Youth Sports and licensed to use their Recommended Guidelines (below).
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NCYS Recommended Guidelines for Background Check Screening

The NCYS Recommended Guidelines for Background Check Screening in Nonprofit Youth-Serving Organizations© were created to assist those responsible for the children in youth programs to no longer have to reinvent the wheel of minimum standards for policies, procedures, and best practices.
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KidSafe Photographer (YSPNC)

The Youth Sports Photography Network Connection (YSPNC.org) is a photo industry network of committed professionals as well as national and international photography associations. YSPNC.org is a unique positive environment that will increase awareness of key issues, and create the opportunity for involvement and participation to increase the safety and protection of all our youth athletes and students.

The YSPNC KidSafe Photographer initiative holds active members to a high standard of character, a dedication to solid business ethics, a commitment to protect all youth, and the most recognized criminal background screening program in America.
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Injury Prevention

aHead of the Game® - sponsored by Chartis

aHead of the Game® is an initiative to reduce the risks of concussions and other head injuries in youth sports. Through greater awareness and education, we want to help coaches, parents and young athletes learn signs and symptoms of concussions, seek proper treatment and follow appropriate return to play protocols to avoid the significant dangers of multiple concussions.

The more parents, coaches, and children know about concussions, the safer they will be. Free downloadable educational materials are available for coaches, parents and kids to learn about the facts and advice on how to prevent concussions.
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Ask the Experts

The Ask the Experts Series provides tips and expertise from skilled occupational and physical therapists as well as athletic trainers to the coaches, athletes, and parents on awareness of injury prevention and sports performance.
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Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports

To help ensure the health and safety of young athletes, CDC developed the Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports initiative to offer information about concussions to coaches, parents, and athletes involved in youth sports. The Heads Up initiative provides important information on preventing, recognizing, and responding to a concussion.

The CDC, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control and its "Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports" tool kit materials have been produced with the input from many youth sports/youth-serving organizations to educate themselves and others about sports-related concussions.
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Other Resources

ChildObesity180

www.ChildObesity180.org
The National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS) announced at the November 2011 Partnership for a Healthier America's Building a Healthier Future Summit its partnership with leading out-of-school-time organizations to unify principles for nutrition and physical activity. Recognizing this opportunity for action, leaders from nine ChildObesity180-affiliated organizations identified and agreed upon three sustainable, actionable Healthy Kids Out of School principles that are sufficiently flexible for adaptation to local environments and cultures. They are:

  • Drink Right: Choose water instead of sugar-sweetened beverages.
  • Move More: Boost movement and physical activity in all programs.
  • Snack Smart: Fuel up on fruits and vegetables.

The Healthy Kids Out of School initiative is a collaboration between the Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the USA, the National Council of La Raza, the National Council of Youth Sports, the National Urban League, Pop Warner, US Youth Soccer, the YMCA of the USA, and 4-H.

NATA's Youth Sports Safety Alliance

www.youthsportssafetyalliance.org
As part of an ongoing effort to reduce the catastrophic athletic injuries and illnesses among young athletes in the United States, the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) has spearheaded the Alliance to Address the Youth Sports Safety Crisis in America with a call to action addressing youth sports-related musculoskeletal and neurological injuries (concussion, heat illness, and ACL). With the support of 29 other leading health care and sports organizations, they are raising awareness about youth sports safety and promoting legislation to improve health care for young athletes.
NCYS Letter of Endorsement 2009 [PDF]
NCYS NATA Youth Sports Safety Alliance Letter 2011 [PDF]