Conemaugh Health System, in collaboration with the 1889 Foundation and Lee Initiatives, will host the Laurel Highlands Coaches Clinic on Saturday, July 31, at the Holiday Inn in Downtown Johnstown from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. A variety of presenters will share knowledge and tools to help prevent and manage injuries in youth sports. The clinic is limited to the first 150 registrants.

Open to coaches, assistant coaches, athletic trainers, school nurses, officials, and volunteers, the clinic is free for all participants. The program will begin with registration and a complimentary breakfast served at 7:30 a.m. followed by presentations on nutrition, strength and conditioning, concussion prevention and management, injury management, infection prevention, safety laws and regulations, and more.

To thank attendees for their commitment to local youth, all participants will receive a gift designed especially for coaches. In addition, attendees will have an opportunity to win one of three donations to the nonprofit youth sports organization of their choice: $500 from Conemaugh Health System, $250 from Lee Initiatives, and $250 from 1889 Foundation.

“It is so important for coaches to know more than just the X’s and O’s of sports. Coaches need to work with their players to strengthen their bodies for these physical games and to know how to care for injuries when they occur on the field. This clinic will benefit all coaches, whether they have been coaching for years or are volunteering to coach for the first time,” says Tom Causer. Trauma Coordinator at Memorial Medical Center.

Presentation topics will include the following topics:

  • Nutrition and sports: Methods to guide the youth athlete on best fluid and nutritional choices to maximize performance and prevent dehydration/injury
  • Strength and Conditioning: Best practices to maximize performance, improve safety, and reduce injuries during pre-season, pre-game, and weight room
  • Concussion prevention/management/return to activity: Methods to prevent, identify, and mange an athlete that is at risk or has suffered a concussion.
  • Managing an injury/illness when you don’t have a trainer: Methods to manage the most common illnesses and injuries that occur in athletes
  • Infection prevention: Best practices to prevent the spread of communicable diseases
  • Understanding the changing legal environment in youth sports: Information on managing situations encountered with athletes, parents, and volunteers that fall outside the realm of coaching.

There will be a separate breakout session for athletic trainers led by Dr. Joseph Pietropaoli. This session is limited to 15 registration spots. Dr. Pietropaoli is a board certified emergency medicine physician as well as a fellowship trained sports medicine physician.

Seating is limited and early registration is strongly encouraged. Participants can park for free in the Holiday Inn parking garage.

Participants can register online, by calling 814.532.0100 (Option #2, Debbie Costlow), or by emailing Tom Causer.

To learn more, visit Conemaugh.org/CoachesClinic