
Medical professionals from MLS and U.S. Soccer will conduct the two-day symposium that will focus on player health and safety issues related to youth, amateur and professional soccer. The event will provide an opportunity for the soccer community to review the latest research, identify best practices, develop additional strategies for enhancing safety and reducing injuries, and chart a course to further understand soccer-related medical issues.
“The health and safety of our athletes is in the forefront of everyone's mind,” said MLS Chief Medical Officer Dr. Larry Lemak. “We welcome the opportunity to work with U.S. Soccer and lend our expertise and share our knowledge with coaches at all levels at this conference.”
The Symposium will bring together top professionals and researchers in sports medicine, leadership of youth and amateur soccer organizations, representatives from professional leagues and clubs, current and former players, and U.S. Soccer, MLS and individual club medical staffs.
“U.S. Soccer and MLS are committed to ensuring the health and safety of athletes of all ages, and educating our coaching leaders is an important step in that process,” said U.S. Soccer Chief Medical Officer George Chiampas. “With over 4,000 coaches participating in the NSCAA conference annually, the symposium represents a unique opportunity to provide consistent information and education on specific key soccer-related injuries and athlete welfare.”
The Symposium will include presentations by leading experts on the current state of research and areas for future research, education sessions on best practices for the management of soccer-related medical issues, and roundtable discussions with medical experts.
In May of 2014, MLS Commissioner Don Garber and U.S. Soccer CEO and Secretary General Dan Flynn joined President Barack Obama and 200 sports officials, medical experts, parent activists and young athletes at the White House to participate in the Healthy Kids & Safe Sports Concussion Summit. The meeting was targeted at finding new ways to identify, treat and prevent serious head injuries, particularly in youth sports, and was vital in the creation of the upcoming Soccer Medical Symposium.
MLS and U.S. Soccer Medical Symposium Lecture Schedule
All lectures located in CC 108B