Alabama's Youth Sports Safety Program Sees Success

CoachSafely Initiative trains 60,000 volunteer coaches, impacting over 900,000 young athletes

Mar. 16, 2026 at 7:49pm

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The CoachSafely Foundation, a non-profit organization in Alabama, has been working to improve youth sports safety across the state. Through partnerships with local parks and recreation departments, the foundation has now certified approximately 60,000 volunteer coaches, impacting more than 900,000 young athletes who participate in youth sports programs. This effort was bolstered by the passage of the Coach Safely Act in 2018, making Alabama the first state to require comprehensive training for youth coaches of athletes aged 14 and under.

Why it matters

Youth sports injuries can lead to missed school days and affect educational outcomes, making this a public health and education issue. The CoachSafely Foundation was created to address this challenge by providing training to coaches on injury prevention and recognition, empowering them to keep young athletes safe while they play the sports they love.

The details

The CoachSafely Foundation has been implementing and advancing the Coach Safely Act by designing the required training courses and providing them to state agencies at no direct cost. A key partnership with the Alabama Recreation and Parks Foundation has allowed the foundation to deliver this training directly to the local recreation programs that serve the majority of Alabama families.

  • The Coach Safely Act was passed by the Alabama Legislature and signed into law by Governor Kay Ivey in 2018.
  • Over the past year, the CoachSafely Foundation has continued to grow its grassroots movement, certifying approximately 60,000 volunteer coaches.

The players

CoachSafely Foundation

A 501(c)(3) non-profit education and research organization focused on improving youth sports safety in Alabama.

Alabama Recreation and Parks Foundation

A partner organization that has helped the CoachSafely Foundation deliver training directly to local recreation programs across the state.

Governor Kay Ivey

The Governor of Alabama who signed the Coach Safely Act into law in 2018.

Dr. James Andrews

The medical director of the CoachSafely Foundation and a renowned orthopedic surgeon.

Bill Clark

The former head coach of the UAB Blazers football team and the current President of the CoachSafely Foundation.

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What they’re saying

“There is a myth that children are less vulnerable to sports injuries. The truth is young athletes are more vulnerable to injury than adults because of open growth plates and developing bones and joints. Also, most concussions occur in the youth because of young, developing brains. The medical science for athletes age 14 and under is a specialty of its own.”

— Dr. James Andrews, Medical Director, CoachSafely Foundation

“When coaches understand how to recognize injuries, prevent them when possible, and respond correctly when they occur, children benefit. Parents gain peace of mind. Communities become healthier and stronger. Youth sports remain a place where kids can develop, compete, and grow — without unnecessary risk.”

— Bill Clark, President, CoachSafely Foundation

What’s next

The CoachSafely Foundation is continuing to develop new course content and a mobile training app to further empower coaches with knowledge and real-time guidance to make better decisions in the moment and prevent youth sports injuries.

The takeaway

The CoachSafely Initiative in Alabama is a successful model for how states can prioritize youth sports safety by requiring comprehensive training for volunteer coaches. This approach is helping to create safer playing environments, give parents peace of mind, and ensure young athletes can develop, compete, and grow through sports without unnecessary risk.