NATA tackles head-down contact with position statement

 The National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) recently issued a position statement on head-down contact and spearing, which could lead to catastrophic cervical spine injuries (CSIs) and, ultimately, quadriplegia.

Targeted at sports medicine professionals, certified athletic trainers, coaches, players, officials and administrators, the position paper was published in a recent edition of the Journal of Athletic Training.

The NATA position statement includes a series of recommendations ranging from describing the safest football contact position to explaining what sports officials need to enforce. The position paper also encourages showing football players educational videos dealing with CSIs and teaching correct contact techniques from the earliest organized levels of football, such as in Pop Warner, Midget and Pee Wee Leagues.

Lead author Jonathan F. Heck, along with Kenneth S. Clarke, Thomas R. Peterson, Joseph S. Torg and Michael P. Weis, spent three years formulating the statement.

To view the position statement, go to www.nata.org/publicinformation/files/spearingps.pdf.

Soccer coaching course educates from ground up

The National Soccer Coaches Association of America unveiled a new Internet-based course for novice and volunteer coaches who are seeking to grasp the fundamentals of the game.

The course, which is part of the newly launched NSCAA Online Academy, is offered free of charge and covers basic information such as the laws of soccer, tips on practice organization and management, and suggestions on skills and drills.

For $10, course participants also have an option of completing a 20-question test and receiving a personalized NSCAA Online Academy Diploma.

"One of the goals of the course is to help volunteer coaches, such as parents who may be new to the game or who haven't ever played soccer, keep kids engaged in the sport at an early age," said Craig Bohnert, assistant executive director for communications at the NSCAA. "We want to make sure young kids' development starts out right because these are the future Mia Hamms and Tony Meolas."

Bohnert said the NSCAA plans to incorporate streaming video into the course this month.

The program, which is endorsed by the American Youth Soccer Organization and the Soccer Association for Youth, is the first in a planned series of Internet-based educational initiatives by the NSCAA.

For more information, go to www.NSCAA.
com

Decathletes grow from competitors to friends

When decathlete Tom Pappas went for gold in Athens last month, he not only had the benefit of having competed in the 2000 Games in Sydney, he also had Kip Janvrin, co-head track and field coach at Central Missouri State University, on his side.

The two met in 1999. In addition to rooming together at the 2000 Games, during which the 35-year-old Janvrin became the oldest U.S. athlete to compete in an Olympic decathlon, they also have competed against each other on several occasions. As a result, a strong friendship developed between the two athletes.

In Athens, Janvrin and Pappas were together again, but Janvrin's script was different this time. Janvrin was brought in to help Pappas' coach Brian Brophy guide the defending world champion to the medal stand.

"Tom has excellent coaches in Knoxville, Tennessee, and they have done a great job, which is reflected in his scores," said Janvrin. "Tom felt that I could help him improve in the areas in which he was struggling."

It wasn't the first time that Janvrin, who by his own admission enjoys offering help to fellow decathletes, had helped coach Pappas.

"I actually helped him some on the field of play during the Sydney
Olympics. I have always tried to help Tom as he is such a likable guy and very appreciative," Janvrin said.

Unfortunately, a foot injury on the second day of competition dashed Pappas' hopes for a medal. Although disappointed, the second-ranked decathlete in the world already has set his sites on a future that will most likely include Janvrin.

"He has already asked my opinion about ideas for when he resumes training," Janvrin said. "I am positive we will remain friends and I told him I would be happy to help him in any way possible."

-- Compiled by Leilana McKindra

Number crunching

Looking back

They said it

Here's what people were talking about in intercollegiate athletics in Septembers of the past:

* September 1970 "The 11th game has given institutions the opportunity to break out of traditional scheduling patterns and meet opponents they couldn't have played until a considerable time into the future."

National Collegiate Sports Services Director Larry Klein addressing NCAA rules that permit an 11th regular-season game in football. A total of 66 Division I teams take advantage of the rule for the 1970 season. Forty-two schools are set to play a 10-game schedule. Schools in the Ivy Group, along with Bowling Green State University and Ohio State University, have nine-game slates.

* September 1975 "Unfortunately, the NCAA has failed to redefine amateur status so that it recognizes modern realities. We can no longer exist on a 'hear no evil, see no evil' basis. We must exercise leadership. The 'big' schools ought to go their own way if they want to continue their patently professional athletics programs. Frankly, I'm tired of continuing to try to justify to our many constituencies the educational importance of big-time college ball. It's a farce, and should be so labeled."

James K. Sours, president of Southern Oregon College and a former NCAA vice-president, in a letter to the editor regarding his unhappiness with the definition of "amateur."

* September 1980 "What we're doing now in recruiting, what we've been doing, I just don't think it's very realistic. I'm running around the country, running into the same coaches at the airport, running into each other outside the high-school coach's office and passing each other on the kid's doorstep.... Recruiting is the only time in life they'll be treated so special, the only time they'll ever have so much attention. I don't see that it prepares them for much in particular. They're never going to be treated so special again."

Former University of Tennessee, Knoxville, football coach Johnny Majors on recruiting.