News & Events

We’re working on a number of initiatives to expand participation and safety in sports. See what we’re up to.
September 16, 2019 News & Events

Lift Barriers to Youth Sports and Physical Activity

By Samuel Browd, as originally posted by the Seattle Times Earlier this year, the American College of Sports Medicine ranked Seattle second in the 2019 American Fitness Index of healthiest cities. But, as we learned from this month’s State of Play: Seattle-King County report, our most important residents are being left behind. The Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program and colleagues at the University of Washington Center for Leadership in Athletics assessed the current state of play for youth physical activity in the region and leveled a harsh grade. Less than 20% of youth in King County get the Centers for Disease Control...

September 4, 2019 News & Events

Law that gives trainers authority to pull players at center of effort to combat concussions

In 2006, playing in a middle school football game, Lystedt suffered a blow to his head. He returned to the game and was hit again, this time suffering a catastrophic brain injury that had him on life support for a week. His recovery required intense physical therapy. It was nine months before he could speak. It was two years before doctors could remove his feeding tube...

July 3, 2019 News & Events

Healthy Living: Youth soccer pilot program teaches kids how to ‘be in the air’ to reduce risk of concussions

When we think about injuries on the soccer field, concussions often come to mind. Experts say most concussions in soccer come from a collision with the ground or another player and not from actually heading the ball. That's why researchers at The Sports Institute at UW Medicine launched a pilot program called Aerial, to teach kids how to head the ball properly...

May 14, 2019 News & Events

10 Years Ago: Lystedt Concussion Law Makes Sports Safer

Today marks the 10th anniversary of the Zackery Lystedt Law, the first comprehensive law in the United States designed to reduce concussion risk and protect student athletes after head injuries....

December 21, 2018 News & Events, Press Release

Youth Football Concussion Rate is 5%, Study Finds

New research from UW Medicine's Sports Health and Safety Institute and Seattle Children’s Research Institute found concussion rates among football players ages 5 to 14 were higher than previously reported, with five out of every 100 youth, or 5 percent, sustaining a football-related concussion each season...