NSCA Endorses Project Play’s National ACL Injury Coalition Pledge to Support Safer Youth Sports

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) has officially endorsed the ACL Pledge, an initiative of Project Play’s National ACL Injury Coalition, part of the Aspen Institute’s Sports & Society Program. This national effort brings together organizations, coaches, parents, and athletes to reduce anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries and keep youth athletes active for life.

According to research compiled by Project Play’s National ACL Injury Coalition, ACL injuries among high school athletes have risen 26% over the past 15 years. These injuries often require surgery, long recovery times, and significant costs, with many young athletes never returning to sport. Evidence also shows that simple neuromuscular training — just 10–15 minutes, two to three times per week — can reduce ACL injury risk by up to 80 percent.

“The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), recognized as the worldwide authority on strength and conditioning, supports and disseminates developmentally appropriate, best practice, evidence-based educational content to not just enhance athletic performance, but also resilience to sport injury,” states Michael Massik, NSCA Executive Director. “The NSCA hereby supports the vision of the Coalition to help increase awareness and action among strength and conditioning practitioners in a variety of professional settings.”

The NSCA has long provided guidance in this area through its landmark Position Statements on Youth Resistance Training and Long-Term Athletic Development. These resources provide science-informed recommendations for safe and effective training, complemented by additional resources for coaches, educators, and parents.

This commitment also aligns with the NSCA’s School of Distinction program, which recognizes K–12 schools worldwide that meet the NSCA’s defined standards for evidence-based training, education, supervision, and facility management. Both initiatives reflect a shared mission: equipping young athletes with safe, effective environments and research-informed training strategies to support injury resilience and long-term athletic development.

The NSCA encourages strength and conditioning professionals, coaches, schools, parents, and community leaders to join the movement by signing the ACL Pledge. Together, we can help make evidence-based training a standard part of youth athletics.

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About the National Strength & Conditioning Association

Founded in 1978, the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is an educational nonprofit dedicated to advancing strength and conditioning and sport science professions around the world. The NSCA empowers a community of professionals by disseminating evidence-based knowledge and its practical application through industry-leading certifications, peer-reviewed research journals, career development services, and continuing education. The NSCA community is composed of more than 60,000 certified professionals and members worldwide who further industry standards as researchers, educators, strength and conditioning coaches, performance and sport scientists, personal trainers, tactical professionals, and other related roles.

About Project Play
An initiative of the Aspen Institute’s Sports & Society Program, Project Play develops insights, ideas and opportunities to build healthy children and communities through sports. For more information, visit ProjectPlay.org.

The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization whose purpose is to ignite human potential to build understanding and create new possibilities for a better world. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve society’s greatest challenges. It is headquartered in Washington, DC and has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, as well as an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.