An Alabama-based youth sports safety initiative is making its way outside of the Yellowhammer State and into Louisiana after Governor Jeff Landry publicly endorsed it during his recent State of the State address.

The CoachSafely Foundation training program — which focuses on identifying injuries, preventing common youth sports risks, and responding appropriately when injuries occur  — was passed by Alabama lawmakers back in 2018 and made Alabama the first state in the nation to require youth coaches of athletes age 14 and under to complete specialized training focused on injury recognition and prevention.

“Governor Landry’s leadership on this issue sends a powerful message that protecting young athletes should be a priority everywhere youth sports are played,” said former UAB head coach and president of the CoachSafely Foundation Bill Clark. “We are grateful for his support and for the work of Senator Edmonds and Louisiana lawmakers who recognize the importance of equipping volunteer coaches with the knowledge they need to keep kids safe.”

According to the foundation, approximately 60,000 volunteer coaches in Alabama have completed CoachSafely certification over the past year alone, impacting more than 900,000 young athletes participating in youth sports programs.

The program is made possible through partnerships with municipal and county parks as well as recreation departments, being supported by organizations including the Alabama Recreation and Parks Association.

The goal of course is to make youth sports safer for all kids who participate, and clearly it’s already making a huge impact.

Louisiana joining the movement could be the next step the foundation needs in order to take things nationwide and continue to put young athletes in the best spot possible for the present and future.