Across the country budget cuts are leading to the elimination of funding for many high school sports programs. School administrators are now turning to the community as an alternative method to completely fund teams. In Duval County (Fla.), the budget woes have prompted threats of cuts and a response from the community that might save certain sports.
The debate over the conflicted or supplemental relationship between club sports and high school sports seems to be tilting toward a more confrontational and competitive position. Incidents of student-athletes having to choose between participation on a club or high school team is become more of a common decision. High school boys' soccer players in the Development Academy League in Ohio may be forced to give up high school participation altogether next fall.
In an effort to provide a safer sports environment for America's children, the NFL and NCAA are advocating for state legislation designed to prevent and properly treat concussions among youth athletes. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NCAA President Mark Emmert and their organizations are urging state lawmakers and other leaders throughout the country to support legislation containing the key elements of a law passed in Washington State in 2009.
According to some experts, a simple way to help prevent concussions involves focusing on what some believe to be a lost art in strength training: the neck. A recent article in Training and Conditioning magazine emphasizes basic preventive care provided by proper training.