Systematic Review of Sports Safety Best Practice Implementation in Non-Scholastic Youth Sport Organizations

Authors

• Katie Sniffen, Saint Louis UniversityFollow
• Hayley J. Root, Northern Arizona UniversityFollow
• Richelle M. Williams, Drake UniversityFollow

Abstract

Purpose: Non-scholastic youth sports organizations offer competitive and recreational activities to millions of children each year but lack centralized oversight for health and safety policy. Despite the benefits of sport participation, there are inherent risks, including cardiac-, concussion-, heat-, and musculoskeletal-related conditions. Therefore, it is important to understand how youth sports safety policies are implemented in non-scholastic youth sport organizations. This systematic review aimed to synthesize the current literature on the implementation of youth sports safety policies in non-scholastic youth sport organizations in the United States. Methods: A computerized search of Cochrane, CINHAL, Ovid Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus for peer-reviewed articles was performed. Backwards review was also conducted. Titles, abstracts, and full texts were independently reviewed by two authors, with a third author resolving any conflicts. Studies were included if they were quality improvement projects or original research focusing on implementation of youth sport safety best practices in non-scholastic youth sport organizations in the United States. Studies were excluded if they were published prior to 2015 and in non-English language. Two authors independently assessed each study’s risk of bias using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool, with conflicts resolved via consensus discussion. Data was extracted for synthesis, and results were organized by cardiac-, concussion-, heat-, and musculoskeletal-related safety. Results: The literature search yielded 2,121 potential articles, with 19 articles ultimately included for synthesis. There is significant variability and inconsistency in the implementation of youth sport safety best practices in non-scholastic youth sport organizations. Conclusions: This review exposed a gap in the literature of non-scholastic youth sport safety policy research compared to that of other sport populations (e.g., high school, collegiate). Despite known risk factors and best practices in high school youth populations, non-scholastic youth sport organizations lack context-specific policies and procedures. However, the development of policies alone is insufficient. The successful implementation of best practices is essential for effective risk mitigation. Collective oversight to standardize best practices may help reduce variability and inconsistencies. (PROSPERO ID: CRD420251109411)

Author Bio(s)

Katie Sniffen, PhD, ATC, is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Athletic Training Program at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, MO. They are a certified and licensed athletic trainer in the state of Missouri.

Hayley J Root, PhD, MPH, ATC, is an Assistant Professor and a Clinical Coordinator of Education of the Athletic Training Program at Northern Arizona University in Phoenix, AZ. She is a certified and licensed athletic trainer in the state of Arizona.

Richelle M. Williams, PhD, ATC, is an Associate Professor and Director of the Athletic Training Program at Drake University in Des Moines, IA. They are a certified and licensed athletic trainer in the state of Iowa

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Dr. Katy Smith (Assistant Extension Professor, University of Missouri) for her invaluable assistance in conducting the literature review for this manuscript. Her expertise in database searching and source identification greatly strengthened the foundation of this work.

Recommended Citation

Sniffen K, Root HJ, Williams RM. Systematic Review of Sports Safety Best Practice Implementation in Non-Scholastic Youth Sport Organizations. The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice. 2026 Sep 01;24(3), Article 20.