8 to 10

Honest self-reporting by athletes of concussion signs and symptoms, both their own and those of their teammates, and not returning to play until all symptoms have cleared both at rest and with exercise is critical for the short- and long-term health of youth and high school athletes.

One of the best ways to protect against arm injuries in youth baseball and maximize your child's natural ability is to teach proper pitching mechanics at as early an age as possible. Teaching your child about pitching mechanics doesn't need to be complicated, and it doesn't need to be too technical, but you and your child must be willing to commit enough time to understand the entire process, step by step.

Symptoms of impending heat illness include chills, nausea, headache, disorientation, and muscle cramping.

If your child goes to a game or scrimmage without having eaten, he or she will not have the energy to play at his/her full potential.  A  meal 2 to 3 hours before the game made up mostly of carbohydrate-rich foods provides the fuel for sports.

With winter comes the risk of injuries and illnesses from cold-weather activity. Here are some tips for preventing and treating hypothermia, frostbite, and other cold-related injuries.

Teaching a child to ski isn't like starting her off in softball or soccer. You can't just go out in the backyard and start tossing or kicking a ball around. It is usually in the child's best interest, and well worth the investment, to enroll her in a qualified ski school so she can get proper instruction based on her age and ability, even if you are an experienced skier.

From handing out schedules, setting up the snack and drink schedule, and sending out e-mails, to keeping player rosters and statistics, and organizing team parties and buying end-of-season gifts for the coaches, team moms are critical to a successful youth sports season.

Soccer, or football as it is known everywhere in the world outside of the United States, is the most popular sport in the world and one of the most popular youth sports in the country.  If your child is playing soccer, it helps to know the basics of the sport.

Since having fun is so essential to a successful youth sports experience, it is important to be on the lookout for signs that your child isn't enjoying herself. If you see a pattern of any of the following five behaviors emerging, it is probably because she is not having fun and, if things don't change, may end up quitting:

Extensive research shows that physical activity and sport can enhance the mental, psychological and spiritual health of American girls and young women. The bottom line is that while sports are not the magic potion they do help girls get through the trials of adolescence.