May 23, 2018

Safe Stars initiative launches

The Tennessee Department of Health and the Program for Injury Prevention in Youth Sports (PIPYS) at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt joined professional and collegiate sports officials and other community partners at Bridgestone Arena recently to kick off the Safe Stars initiative.

The Tennessee Department of Health and the Program for Injury Prevention in Youth Sports (PIPYS) at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt joined professional and collegiate sports officials and other community partners at Bridgestone Arena recently to kick off the Safe Stars initiative.

Alex Diamond, DO, MPH, professor of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation and Pediatrics and director of PIPYS, speaks at the Safe Stars launch event at Bridgestone Arena. (photo by John Russell)

Safe Stars is a new effort to recognize Tennessee youth sports leagues with high standards of safety for athletes, and it is the first youth sports safety rating system in the United States. The goal of the initiative is to provide resources and opportunities for every Tennessee youth sports league to improve safety standards.

The criteria for achieving recognition as a Safe Stars league have been developed by a committee of health professionals dedicated to reducing sports-related injuries among youth.