Levin wants city to take closer look at youth sports injuries
Calls for creation of task force
City officials should be taking a closer look at injuries suffered by children playing sports, according to Councilman Stephen Levin, who introduced legislation this week that would create a youth sports health and safety task force.
Under Levin’s plan, the task force would track injuries sustained during youth sports activities in New York City. The task force would be responsible for analyzing how injuries affect the victims’ educational performance and behavior. The panel would then make recommendations to the mayor and City Council on the prevention and alleviation of such impacts.
The task force would have seven members and would include representation by Mayor Bill de Blasio, Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and the Departments of Education, Health and Mental Hygiene and Parks and Recreation.
“Athletics are an incredible opportunity for personal growth and to stay active, but it is important that children can compete in a safe and healthy manner. Injuries in youth sports are a serious problem and I can recall numerous times growing up where my friends or myself would incur injuries while playing sports,” Levin (D-Greenpoint-Williamsburg) said in a statement.