THE NATIONAL ATHLETIC TRAINERS’ ASSOCIATION AND NORTH AMERICAN BOOSTER CLUB ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP

Underscoring commitment to secondary school sport injury prevention
and treatment, the two organizations have developed a
Sports Safety Checklist for parents and coaches

ST. LOUIS, MO., June 18, 2008 – To underscore their commitment to secondary school sports injury prevention and treatment, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) and the North American Booster Club Association (NABCA) today announced a partnership at NATA’s annual meeting in St. Louis. As a first step in this partnership, NATA member Kira Au, MS, ATC, head athletic trainer at Bishop Amat Memorial High School in La Puente, Calif., will become the first athletic trainer appointed to the NABCA national advisory board. The associations also introduced a sports safety checklist as a guide for parents, coaches, administrators, athletic trainers and other health care professionals, to ensure safe and healthy play.

“We are excited to partner with NABCA to educate parents and coaches on how to help high school athletes avoid common sports-related injuries,” said NATA President Chuck Kimmel, ATC. “After all, the safety of young athletes is a top priority for certified athletic trainers who specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries.”

“Teaming up with NATA is a natural fit for our organization, and we’re pleased to welcome Kira Au to our national advisory board,” said Steve Beden, President and CEO of NABCA. “We look forward to working with NATA on ongoing projects to reduce the number of injuries among children playing sports in the U.S.”

Sports Safety Checklist

Following are highlights of the NATA and NABCA sports safety guidelines. An electronic version of the entire checklist is available at www.nata.org and www.boosterclubs.org

1. Coaches should develop a written emergency action plan to prepare for possible sport-related injuries.
2. If there is no certified athletic trainer on staff, coaches, parents and officials should be trained in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).
3. Make sure that athletes have their own water bottles and stay well hydrated.
4. Develop educational programs for parents and athletes regarding conditioning, strength training, hydration, nutrition, injury prevention and care, rules and fundamentals of the sport.
5. Plan a mock emergency to practice execution of the emergency action plan.
6. Determine what to include in a first aid kit for specific sports.
7. On a regular basis, perform a safety check of the facility.
8. Develop a sports/parent “code of conduct” and always show good sportsmanship.
9. Understand the fundamentals and rules of the sport, and be supportive of your child and the coach.
10. Coaches should always arrange a pre-season meeting for parents outlining the school’s or league’s philosophies and safety procedures.

For more information, visit the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (www.nata.org)
and North American Booster Club Association (www.boosterclubs.org).

North American Booster Club Association (NABCA)
The North American Booster Club Association (NABCA) is the governing body and first of its kind national booster club association dedicated to providing booster clubs and their extracurricular organizations throughout North America with the highest level of guidance, education, training and support. NABCA supports the more than 1.3 million school, non-school, sports, music and arts based booster clubs who work to insure the continuation of extracurricular programs that provide life skills, build strong leaders and keep our kids in school, out of gangs and off drugs. Visit www.boosterclubs.org.

National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) – Health Care for Life & Sport
Athletic trainers are unique health care professionals who specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries and illnesses. The National Athletic Trainers' Association represents and supports 30,000 members of the athletic training profession. NATA advocates for equal access to athletic trainers for patients and clients of all ages and supports H.R. 1846. Only 42 percent of high schools have access to athletic trainers. NATA members adhere to a code of ethics. Visit www.nata.org.

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“Kira brings a wealth of talent, passion and knowledge to the advisory board and will help to mold the support NABCA can provide to both parents of athletes and fellow sports organizations and associations,” said NABCA President Steve Beden. “Safety should always be considered a priority in sports, and the role NABCA plays in educating parents is ideal for insuring that this message rings loud and clear.”

“The opportunity to become a member of the NABCA national advisory board is both an honor and a privilege and I look forward to helping provide the association with the best leadership possible, just as I provide my athletes with the best quality health care possible. I understand the importance and benefit of having access to a Certified Athletic Trainer and I firmly believe that all secondary schools should seek to employ a Certified Athletic Trainer. The health and safety of athletes should be a top priority in all athletic programs.”

About NABCA
The North American Booster Club Association (NABCA) (www.boosterclubs.org) is the governing body and first of its kind national booster club association dedicated to providing booster clubs and their extracurricular organizations throughout North America with the highest level of Guidance, Education, Training and Support. NABCA supplies booster clubs with the most comprehensive portfolio of resources and club building tools available to help build and manage successful clubs. Booster Clubs are a key component to a successful extracurricular program as they provide funding, volunteer support, upkeep for facilities, fields and equipment, transportation and scholarships.

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March 28, 2008
Cherry Hill, NJ – As proponents of child safety, North American Booster Club Association (NABCA) and Kidz-IDz have joined forces to offer two unique products to help protect our nation’s youth from stranger abductions and unintentional injuries.

Free Child Photo ID Card
Every NABCA member is being provided with a free, hard plastic, Child Photo ID & Medical Emergency Card with Electronic ID. Because the ID Card includes valuable medical information in addition to important personal data, it not only helps reunite a lost or missing child with their loved ones or group, but also is helpful in the event of a medical emergency. Specifically, each fully customized ID Card is imprinted with:

• student’s color photo
• student’s first initial & last name
• student’s date of birth, height, & weight
• student’s eye color, hair color, & gender
• student’s medical conditions and allergy info
• emergency contact name with three phone numbers
• optional medical release section

In addition to the free Child Photo ID Card, each member also receives a free Electronic ID. An Electronic ID is recommended as the fastest solution for transferring key information in the event of a missing child episode or a medical emergency. It enables parents to store their child’s photo and descriptive details on their home computer, and includes other helpful files to help prevent and react to an emergency. The ID Card and Electronic ID are free; members contribute only a reduced shipping & handling fee.

According to Steve Beden, President of NABCA, “It’s nice to find something that can truly make a difference in the life of a child or a family and we believe that the Kidz-IDz Child Photo ID Cards can do just that. When we first reviewed the Kidz-IDz Child Photo ID Cards we realized that not only were they an invaluable tool when a child is lost or abducted, but we also recognized that the cards were of tremendous value for kids of all ages who attend camps and clinics or travel with school clubs and teams as the cards contain vital medical information such as allergies and medical conditions as well as serving as a medical release.”

Safetyville Board Game
New this year, NABCA and Kidz-IDz are introducing the Safetyville board game to all Booster Clubs. As stated on the product packaging, and evidenced by favorable product reviews, “Children get so absorbed in this competitive board game that they don't even realize they are learning how to stay safe in today's unsafe world!” Normally $20.00 + shipping, NABCA members may purchase Safetyville at a 20% discount. Additionally, NABCA members may participate in the Safetyville Fundraiser. By selling this board game to friends & family, Booster Clubs earn money while helping educate children about how to stay safe in their own environment.

According to Michael Pouls, founder of Kidz-IDz, “We are very excited to be working with NABCA, providing Booster Clubs across the country with not only an outstanding fundraising opportunity that raises money for their club, but also with the tools they need to keep safe in today’s increasingly dangerous world. The Safetyville board game, for example, helps children identify and therefore avoid potentially dangerous situations.”

The North American Booster Club Association (NABCA) (www.boosterclubs.org) is the governing body and first of its kind national booster club association dedicated to providing booster clubs and their extracurricular organizations throughout North America with the highest level of Guidance, Education, Training and Support.

Kidz-IDz is a leader in child safety. For more information, please contact Mindy Hershorin at 610-520-2012 or mhershorin@kidzidz.com.

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