ATLANTA, Jan. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to overwhelming national concerns regarding concussions in sports, renowned concussion experts have joined forces with international sports marketing specialists to create Sports Care Connect, a new 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, to provide both funding and leadership in the battle against sport-induced concussions. With a focus on young athletes, Sports Care Connect was launched today to provide the most comprehensive solutions to date for the single largest health-related concern in athletics.

Sports Care Connect was founded by the Sports Concussion Institute, an organization dedicated solely to the prevention and state-of-the-art treatment of sport-induced concussions for the past seven years, and Encompass International, an organization of former Olympic and sport marketers with a long history of generating revenue for the benefit of sports worldwide.

Mr. Davis Butler, President of Encompass International, said today, "The two missing elements in the fight against sport-induced concussions and their impact are leadership and funding. We are providing leadership by bringing together the top health care practitioners, advocates, researchers, scholastic associations and other stakeholders. To complement this, we are generating funding from foundations, corporations and private individuals to deliver support to young athletes and their families." Sports Care Connect is focusing its initial efforts on underserved communities where the needs of young athletes and their families are the greatest while also delivering on its vision to help young athletes in every community across the nation. Mr. Butler further added, "In addition to encouraging donations from all who are interested in joining this fight, we have developed strategic, authentic and far reaching marketing opportunities to create valuable returns for corporate partners who provide resources to help our kids play safely."

"Based upon my many years of research on concussions and our treatment of young concussed athletes, it is clear to me that this effort by Sports Care Connect is the most comprehensive approach to reducing the incidence and severity from sport-induced concussions and mitigating long-term and catastrophic consequences of these injuries," says Dr. Tony Strickland, CEO of the Sports Concussion Institute. Dr. Strickland added, "Nationwide legislative efforts to address prevention, treatment and return-to-play decisions for those with concussions are extraordinary but funding is the missing element. Sports Care Connect will help deliver much needed funding to provide a comprehensive concussion solution to all youth sports participants." In addition to education and awareness initiatives, Sports Care Connect plans to provide funding for baseline testing of young athletes, funding to provide properly certified trainers, tools for initially assessing young athletes who have been injured, access to a network of properly certified concussion healthcare providers, as well as insurance for concussion care treatment where needed.

Dr. Strickland added, "In addition to funding, partnerships also are key to this effort. All of us in this battle will be more effective working together." Sports Care Connect will lead a collaborative effort involving various medical associations, governmental entities and other nationwide experts to deliver on its mission.

With effective partnerships and proper funding, Sports Care Connect can significantly reduce the number of deaths and other adverse catastrophic outcomes from youth sports. Big hits in football, soccer, hockey, cheerleading and other youth sports do not have to end in broken dreams.

www.sportscareconnect.org

SOURCE Sports Care Connect

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