The ACL Injury Crisis in Youth Sports: What Can Coaches and Program Leaders Do?

Is there an answer to the ACL crisis in youth sports? Two decades of research say yes; simple exercises done regularly can dramatically reduce the odds of this life-changing injury. The problem: we haven't activated together around it at scale. Calling all coaches, program leaders, parents and athletes to pull up a chair, join this session and learn more. If you can't make it, sign up to receive the recording and a free guide for keeping youth on the field and active for life.

Overview

ACL injuries are on the rise, particularly among youth soccer players—with devastating physical, psychological, and financial consequences. Join Dr. Vincent Minjares of the Aspen Institute’s Sports & Society Program for a critical conversation about the growing ACL injury epidemic and what youth soccer leaders can do to turn the tide.

This live roundtable will explore the research, risks, and real-world solutions that can keep more kids active for life.

Key Takeaways

• Understand the Crisis – Learn why ACL injuries are increasing—especially among female athletes—and the long-term impacts on athletes' lives and futures.
• Explore Proven Solutions - Discover how neuromuscular training (NMT) can reduce ACL injuries by up to 88% in youth soccer, and how it enhances performance and long-term mobility.
• Overcome Implementation Barriers - Get practical strategies for integrating ACL prevention into daily practice—even with limited time, resources, and coach experience.
• Access Free Tools & Training - Learn about free online coach training, easy-to-use protocols, app-based workouts, and insurance incentives that can support your program.
• Mobilize Your Community - Gain ideas for messaging and awareness-building that drives buy-in from coaches, athletes, and parents.

Who Should Attend?

• Coaches and technical directors
• Club and league administrators
• Athletic trainers and physical therapists
• Parents of youth athletes
• Sports medicine professionals
• Anyone invested in safer, smarter youth sports

Learn more: https://projectplay.org/acl-injury-prevention

Panelists Include:

Dr. Vincent Minjares Program Manager, Sports & Society Program at The Aspen Institute

Vincent holds a Ph.D in Coaching & Pedagogy from AUT University (Auckland, NZ), where he received a Vice Chancellor Doctoral Fellowship. Vincent also holds an M.A. in Education from U.C. Berkeley, within the Cultural Studies of Sport and Education (CSSE) program, and a B.A. in Economics from Claremont McKenna College. Vincent’s research interests focus on the application of theories of learning and human development to key issues in sports, education and society. Vincent’s doctoral work investigated the complexity of teaching and learning in a high school boys’ basketball team while his master’s work explored how coaches can leverage sport learning to cultivate academic competence in students. Through an academic-industry collaboration in New Zealand, Vincent was appointed the Lead Trainer for Good Sports, a national train-the-trainer program driving adult behavior change in youth and junior sports.

Jimmy Russomano, MS, CSCS is the Assistant Director of Athlete Health at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS)

With a strong background in exercise science and injury prevention, he plays a pivotal role in developing and managing programs aimed at enhancing athletic performance and reducing injury risks. Russomano has contributed to various educational initiatives, including neuromuscular training programs designed to improve coordination and prevent injuries among athletes. His work emphasizes the importance of evidence-based practices in sports medicine and athlete health.

He holds a Master of Science degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). His expertise and leadership continue to impact the field of sports medicine, particularly in the areas of injury prevention and athletic performance enhancement

Dr. Holly Silvers-Granelli, who serves numerous roles as an injury prevention expert, including with MLS, USSF, and NFL

Dr. Silvers-Granelli is a board certified Physical Therapist specializing in sports orthopaedic rehabilitation in Santa Monica, CA.  She completed her PhD in Applied Physiology and Biomechanics at the University of Delaware.  She is a current member of United States Soccer Federation’s Medical Team, the chair of Major League Soccer’s Medical Assessment Research Committee (M-MARC) and a member of the International Cartilage Research Society’s Rehabilitation Committee. She is also the spokesperson for the American Physical Therapy Association’s task-force on ACL Prevention.  In addition, she is a rehabilitation consultant for Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC, Seattle Sounders, Portland Timbers and the Los Angeles Galaxy.  She is also serving a research advisory role to FIFA's Female Football Research Initiative, Major League Baseball's Hamstring injury prevention Committee, the National Football League (NFL) Musculoskeletal ACL Injury Mitigation Task Force. the Aspen Center Coalition for ACL Mitigation (New York, NY) and the Aspetar Sports Medicine Advisory Board (Doha, Qatar).

Hosted By

The GOALS Council is a national strategic advisory council founded by Stack Sports in collaboration with influential leaders across the youth sports landscape. This action-oriented group serves an idea incubator, uniting top minds in the sport to address key challenges and advance innovative solutions that will shape the future of soccer for the next generation.