InjureFree Technology Named Key Component of "Player Welfare Program" as Southern California Youth Rugby Claims National Safety Award

LA JOLLA, Calif., Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern California Youth Rugby (SCYR), through its adoption of the software platform InjureFree, has been voted as the recipient for the National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS) and AIG Insurance S.T.R.I.V.E. Award. The goal of the award is to recognize organizations that embrace a "kids first" approach and implement best practices and policies, protecting kids by promoting responsible health, wellness and safety. The S.T.R.I.V.E. award, which stands for Sports Teach Respect, Initiative, Values and Excellence, includes a $5,000 donation to SCYR.

InjureFree CEO Charlie Wund says "We are honored to be part of such a tremendous campaign, focused on youth sports safety. SCYR is lucky to have Alexandra Williams at the helm, as she is a true leader who has provided an example of how youth sports administrators can impact the care provided to young athletes."

As a platform which documents injuries from any mobile device and improves communication between all caregivers, InjureFree contributes significantly to SCYR's safety and risk management needs.  Certified athletic trainers, provided by ATvantage, manage injuries at the pitch and enter injury reports directly into InjureFree. They are then reviewed by SCYR's Player Welfare Program Manager, who follows up with parents and coaches as appropriate, including implementation of SCYR's mandatory concussion protocol.

ATvantage President Alisha Pennington praises SCYR as well, "Collaborating with Alexandra Williams at SoCal Youth Rugby has allowed for the creation of an unprecedented model that other youth programs can aspire to. We are proud to be one of the pillars of the Player Welfare Program, focusing on providing athletic training services to young athletes."

In continuation of SCYR's "Player Welfare Program", InjureFree will also assist in the delivery and tracking of the CDC's concussion education for athletes, administrators, coaches, and parents. The two-fold goal is to educate each group on how to identify and respond to suspected concussions, and to understand return to play process. InjureFree maintains a connected loop of evaluation and concussion education amongst all – governing bodies, parents, medical science experts, educators, and athletic organizations. This ground-breaking software also allows for the effective implementation of training and care programs necessary for compliance with the new California State Law, AB 2007.    

"InjureFree's platform has been an essential component of the successful implementation of our comprehensive Player Welfare Program," says SCYR Executive Director Alexandra Williams, also a 3-time World Cup athlete and former Captain of the USA Women's National Rugby Team, "It is enabling us to not only track and ensure follow-up with critical injuries like concussions, but also allows us to begin to amass injury data that we can use to refine and improve our safety policies on an ongoing basis. In addition, we look forward to working with InjureFree to implement improved concussion education resources and ensure that our coaches, athletes, parents, and administrators have the information and tools they need to keep our athletes as safe as possible while enjoying this great game."

SoCal Youth Rugby is the first State Rugby Organization (SRO) in the Nation to implement InjureFree's innovative platform, however many others are following the leadership of SCYR and deploying the technology this fall. This initiative ensures a standard level of care for all athletes, provides a roadmap for other SROs to institute similar programs and, ultimately, makes youth rugby safer.

"Southern California Youth Rugby has set the bar for what parents should expect from their child's athletic governing body," says Wund. "InjureFree was developed specifically as a means for increased communication, with its use in youth and high school sports in mind. No longer can someone claim, 'I didn't know that a child was injured.' We're so thankful NCYS and AIG continue to support a safer game. We're excited to be partnered with SCYR and ATvantage, creating a healthier future for young athletes."

Contact:

Charlie Wund, InjureFree, [email protected], 866-591-2747 x801

Alexandra Williams, Southern California Youth Rugby, [email protected], 415-336-7981

Alisha Pennington, ATvantage, [email protected], 213.373.4282

About InjureFree
InjureFree is a web-based injury documentation and education platform for schools and youth sports organizations. InjureFree provides an all-in-one solution keeping organizations in compliance with state laws, reducing paperwork, and providing a communication platform during recovery, including return to play documentation. InjureFree is a product of the Agency for Student Health Research. The web-based injury reporting platform was created in response to the rising concern for athlete safety and the long-term effects of concussions. After a four-year development project, the HIPAA and FERPA compliant software is now collecting injury reports across the world. Visit InjureFree.com, follow on Facebook and Twitter, or email at [email protected] for more information on how InjureFree can help your community.  

About Southern California Youth Rugby
A member of USA Rugby, Southern California Youth Rugby (SCYR, Inc.) is the organizing body responsible for all youth and high school rugby in Southern California. Running from San Luis Obispo to San Diego and all points east, SCYR includes over 80 member clubs and high school teams which compete in high school and club leagues serving athletes ages U8 to U18, as well as a series of 7s tournaments in the summer. The sport of rugby is growing rapidly in the US, come join us!  For more information, visit us at http://www.socalyouthrugby.org and visit us on Facebook and Twitter.

About ATvantage LLC:
ATvantage Athletic Training, a service of ATvantage, LLC, is leading the way in athletic training contract services and providing a risk management solution for school athletic departments. ATvantage works alongside their clients to provide uniquely catered packages to place certified and verified athletic trainers to their site(s) based on their needs and compatibility. ATvantage, LLC promotes athletic trainers as health care professionals and educates clients about their expertise. In doing so, ATvantage encourages clients to provide proper compensation and healthy work environments. For more information, please visit www.theATvantage.com, also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @theATvantage.

http://www.ncys.org/http://www.facebook.com/ncys.orgyouthsportsncys 

SOURCE InjureFree

Related Links

http://www.injurefree.com