The Safe Stars Initiative

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Safe Stars is a collaboration between the Tennessee Department of Health and the Program for Injury Prevention in Youth Sports at The Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.

The Safe Stars initiative recognizes youth sports leagues throughout Tennessee for providing the highest level of safety for their young athletes. Safe Stars consists of 3 levels: gold, silver, and bronze, and involves implementation of policies around topics such as concussion education, weather safety and injury prevention.

Safe Stars’ goal is to provide resources and opportunities for every youth sports league to enhance their safety standards. The criteria for achieving recognition as a Safe Stars league has been developed by a committee of health professionals dedicated to reducing sports-related injuries among youth. 

Safe Stars Standards

To reach the initial level of recognition, Bronze Star standard, a league must adhere to the following safety standards:

  • Emergency Action Plan (EAP) / Team emergency contacts (specific plan and practiced annually)
  • Background checks completed on all coaches
  • Minimum of 2 coaches CPR/AED certified (one always present)
  • AED on site for all practices and games
  • All coaches trained in concussion and sudden cardiac arrest recognition/management
  • Severe weather policy (including heat and lightning)
  • Anaphylaxis and Allergy Emergency plan
  • Safeguarding Policy for preventing and reporting child abuse and neglect

Standards for Silver Star (Choose 2) and Gold Star (choose 4) Levels include:

  • Pre-participation Physical Examination (PPE) required
  • Risk and safety information/policies relayed to parents/guardians
  • All coaches complete additional health, safety and injury prevention training
  • All athletic equipment undergoes safety checks
  • Medical professional (ATC, first responder, etc.) on site for all games
  • Medical professional (ATC, first responder, etc.) on site for all practices
  • ALL coaches CPR/AED certified
  • On site tobacco policy / “Young Lungs at Play”
  • Promote positive culture and standard of expectations regarding behavior

Safe Stars Brochures

Printed copies of these brochures are available free of charge by emailing safestars.health@tn.gov.

Safe Stars Application

To become a Safe Star League, click here.

The application recommends that various documents supporting completion of criteria for Safe Stars be uploaded (i.e. CPR/AED certification, inclement weather policies, etc.), so be prepared before beginning the application. Uploading all documents will shorten your application review process.    

  • Review the criteria and resources page before applying to make sure your league is qualified
  • Pending application acceptance, your league will receive a certificate of recognition along with a digital copy of the Safe Star logo to display.
  • If you do not achieve a Safe Star level, you may reapply at any time.
  • Your Safe Star recognition will be in effect for 5 years, after which time you must re-apply.
  • You may apply for a higher level star at any time (i.e. your league can qualify for gold instead of silver).

For questions please contact:  Safestars.health@tn.gov

Resources to Achieve Safe Stars Standards

Emergency Action Plan (EAP) / Team Emergency contacts


Background checks


CPR/AED certification


Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention and Automatic Electronic Defibrillator (AED) Training/Resources


Concussion Recognition/Management Training


Sudden Cardiac Arrest Recognition/Management Training:


Severe weather policy (including lightning and heat safety)


Anaphylaxis and Allergy Emergency Plan


Pre-participation Physical Examination (PPE) 


Additional health, safety and injury prevention training


Safety checks for athletic equipment


Promote positive culture & standard of expectations regarding behavior


Safeguarding

Safe Stars Sports Leagues

Click on the links below to see the leagues that have achieved Safe Star status.

Alvin C. York Institute

Backfield In Motion Inc

Blackman High School

Blackman Middle School

Central Magnet School

Christiana Middle School

Clarksville Parks and Recreation

Dobyns-Bennett High School (New)

Eagleville High School

Eagleville School

Gallatin Soccer Club

Gatlinburg-Pittman High School

Grainger High School (New)

Hendersonville Soccer Club

Kingston Parks and Recreation Center

Lakeway Christian Academy (New)

LaVergne High School

LaVergne Middle School

Midway High School (New)

Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Center

Nashville Youth Encouragement Services (New)

Northview Academy

Oakland High School

Oakland Middle School

Percy Priest Ducks Youth Program

Pigeon Forge High School

Pride Lions Lacrosse

Riverdale High School

Rock Springs Middle School

Rockvale Middle School

Sevier County High School

Seymour High School

Siegel High School

Siegel Middle School

Smyrna High School

Smyrna Middle School

Stewarts Creek High School

Stewarts Creek Middle School

The Kings Academy (New)

The Webb School

Thurman Francis Arts Academy

Union County High School (New)

Upper Cumberland United Soccer Club

Washburn High School (New)

Whitworth-Buchanan Middle School 
 

Coming Soon.

Cheatham Soccer

Safe Stars Partners

American Society of Shoulder and Elbow Therapists

Belmont University Athletic Department

Brain Links

Children’s Hospital Alliance of Tennessee

Children’s Hospital at Erlanger

Cumberland Pediatric Foundation

East Tennessee Children’s Hospital

LeBonheur Children’s Hospital

Lipscomb University Athletic Department

Memphis Grizzlies

Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt

Nashville Coaching Coalition

Nashville Predators

Nashville Soccer Club

Nashville Sounds

Nashville Sports Council

National Football League Players Association - Nashville Former Players Chapter

Niswonger Children’s Hospital

Office of Tennessee Attorney General

Program for Injury Prevention in Youth Sports at Vanderbilt

Safe Kids Cumberland Valley

Special Olympics - Tennessee

Tennessee Academy of Family Physicians

Tennessee Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance

Tennessee Athletic Trainers Society

Tennessee Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics

Tennessee Children's Emergency Care Alliance

Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development

Tennessee Department of Health

Tennessee Governor’s Children’s Cabinet (Kidcentraltn.com)

Tennessee Medical Association

Tennessee Nurses Association

Tennessee Orthopedic Society

Tennessee Osteopathic Medical Association

Tennessee Recreation and Parks Association

Tennessee Physical Therapy Association

Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association

Tennessee State Soccer Association 

Tennessee Tech University Athletic Department

University of Tennessee Athletic Department

Vanderbilt University Athletic Department

Vanderbilt Sports Medicine

Vanderbilt University Medical Center