This topic was recently featured in 225 Magazine. Read the published version.
Youth sports provide children with countless benefits from building confidence and teamwork skills to encouraging healthy habits and lifelong friendships. But for many families, concerns about injuries can make participating in sports feel intimidating. In fact, the State of Play Baton Rouge report found that 25% of local youth avoid sports because they are afraid of getting hurt.
At Baton Rouge Orthopaedic Clinic (BROC), protecting young athletes is central to our mission. Through the BROC Foundation, we partner with local schools and youth organizations throughout the Baton Rouge community to improve athlete safety, increase access to sports medicine resources, and help kids stay active and healthy. One of those partnerships is with Baton Rouge Soccer Club (BRSC), Louisiana’s largest sports organization.
Through this partnership, the BROC Foundation provides a full-time athletic trainer on site at BRSC — a level of sports medicine support unmatched in Louisiana youth sports. Rather than focusing only on game-day coverage, this model emphasizes ongoing care, education, injury prevention, and rehabilitation throughout the week.
By embedding a dedicated healthcare professional within the organization, BRSC athletes benefit from immediate injury evaluations, injury-prevention strategies, weather-related safety decisions, emergency action planning, and direct support for coaches and families. Having an athletic trainer consistently available allows injuries to be addressed early, often helping prevent minor issues from becoming more serious conditions.
Athletic trainers also play an important role in educating young athletes about safe training habits, proper warm-ups, hydration, recovery, and recognizing signs of injury. Overuse injuries, sprains, strains, and heat-related illnesses are common in youth sports, especially during periods of intense activity or extreme temperatures. Access to expert guidance helps athletes train smarter and compete more safely.
Parents also gain peace of mind knowing experienced medical professionals are available to support their children both on and off the field. Coaches benefit from having a trusted healthcare resource to help make informed decisions about player safety and return-to-play protocols.
“At BRSC, our healthcare team gives parents peace of mind by being available and dedicated to young athletes’ health and safety,” says Riley, BRSC Director of Athletic Training for the BROC Foundation.
At BROC, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to participate in sports safely and confidently. Through partnerships like BRSC and our ongoing support of local schools and organizations, we remain committed to helping young athletes stay healthy, active, and in the game.