Safe Stars

Safe Stars is a collaboration between the Tennessee Department of Health and the Vanderbilt Youth Sports Health Center to provide resources and opportunities for every youth sports league to enhance their safety standards.

About Safe Stars

The Safe Stars Initiative is a collaboration between the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) and the Vanderbilt Youth Sports Health Center. The program recognizes youth sports leagues across Tennessee that implement strong safety standards to protect young athletes from injuries and health risks.

Safe Stars includes three recognition levels—Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Each level reflects the adoption of specific safety policies and training requirements, including concussion education, weather safety, emergency planning, and injury prevention.

The goal of Safe Stars is to provide youth sports leagues with resources, support, and recognition to help them enhance the safety of their programs.

Safe Stars Recognition Levels

Bronze Level

To achieve the Bronze level, a league must meet the following safety standards.

Policy Standards

Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and team emergency contacts; the plan must be practiced annually
Anaphylaxis and allergy emergency response plan
Background and fingerprint checks for all coaches
Severe weather policy (including heat and lightning)
Completion of the Safe Stars Coaches Code of Conduct
Safeguarding policy for preventing and reporting child abuse and neglect

Training Standards

All coaches are CPR/AED trained
- Resources: Project ADAM, American Red Cross
Annual concussion training (choose one):
- NFHS Concussion in Sports Course
- CDC Heads Up Course
Annual sudden cardiac arrest training
- NFHS Sudden Cardiac Arrest Course
Annual heat illness prevention training
- NFHS Heat Illness Prevention Course
Parent or guardian signs the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Symptoms and Warning Signs information sheet
Informational meeting or video before each athletic season for students, parents, coaches, and school officials, covering:
- Sudden cardiac arrest
- Heat illness
- Concussions
- EKG information
- Other relevant safety topics

Silver Level

To achieve the Silver level, a league must:

Meet all Bronze criteria, and:
Have an AED available at all hosted events
Complete the Safe Stars Parents/Guardians Code of Conduct
Complete any two additional criteria from the “Additional Criteria” list

Gold Level

To achieve the Gold level, a league must:

Meet all Bronze and Silver criteria, and:
Have an AED on-site for all hosted practices and games (accessible within 3–5 minutes)
Complete any four additional criteria from the “Additional Criteria” list

Additional Criteria

Pre-participation Physical Examination (PPE) required
Risk and safety information/policies provided to parents and guardians
Additional training for all coaches in topics such as:
- Bullying, Hazing, and Inappropriate Behaviors
- National Alliance for Youth Sports Coaching Course
- National Center for Sports Safety PREPARE Course
- Suicide Prevention for Youth Coaches
Safety checks for all athletic equipment
Medical professional (ATC, first responder, etc.) available at practices and/or games
All coaches are CPR/AED certified
Tobacco-free policy on-site
Promotion of positive culture in youth sports through frameworks such as:
- Coaching Boys into Men
- Athletes as Leaders
- Aspen Institute Project Play’s Calls for Coaches
Opioid abuse and misuse awareness and education
Completion of the free From the Huddle coach self-assessment

Apply to Become a Safe Stars League

To learn more or to start your application, visit the How to Apply tab or select the Apply for Safe Stars Recognition link.

Apply for Safe Stars Recognition

Tennessee Injury Prevention Companion Initiatives and Programs

Injury Prevention Home

Trauma Informed Workplaces

How to Apply

To become a Safe Stars organization, complete the Safe Stars Application.

Before applying:

Gather required documents such as CPR/AED certifications, weather safety policies, and training documentation
Uploading all required documents will speed up the review process

Additional information:

Review the criteria and resources before submitting your application
Organizations that qualify will receive:
- A certificate of recognition
- A digital Safe Stars logo for display
Recognition is valid for five years
Leagues may reapply at any time or apply for a higher level (e.g., Silver → Gold)

For questions, email SafeStars.Health@tn.gov.

Ready to apply? Submit your Safe Stars application today to begin the recognition process.

Apply Now

Current Safe Stars Leagues

The leagues listed below have achieved Safe Stars recognition by meeting safety standards that help protect young athletes across Tennessee.

Gold Standard

Alvin C. York Institute
Arlington Community High School
Backfield In Motion Inc
Bearden High School
Blackman High School
Blackman Middle School
Bledsoe County
Brentwood Middle School
Central Magnet School
Christiana Middle School
Clarksville Parks and Recreation
Cumberland Gap High School
Dobyns-Bennett High School
Eagleville High School
Eagleville School
Gallatin Soccer Club
Gatlinburg-Pittman High School
Grainger High School
Grassland Middle School
Hendersonville High School (NEW)
Hendersonville Parks and Recreation
Hendersonville Soccer Club
Heritage Middle School
Houston High School
Jefferson County High School
Joe Shafer Middle School
John Overton High School
Kingston Parks and Recreation Center
Knox Doss Middle School
Lakeland Preparatory School
Lakeway Christian Academy
Lake Road Elementary (NEW)
LaVergne High School
LaVergne Middle School
Legacy Middle School
Lenoir City High School
Merrol Hyde Magnet School
Midway High School
Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Center
Nashville Youth Encouragement Services
Northview Academy
Oakland High School
Oakland Middle School
Percy Priest Ducks Youth Program
Pigeon Forge High School
Powell High School
Pride Lions Lacrosse
Rhea County High School (NEW)
Riverdale High School
Rock Springs Middle School
Rockvale High School
Rockvale Middle School
Rocky Fork Middle School
Sevier County High School
Seymour High School
Siegel High School
Siegel Middle School
Smyrna High School
Smyrna Middle School
Springs Empower Academy (NEW)
Spring Station Middle School
Station Camp High School
Stewarts Creek High School
Stewarts Creek Middle School
Sunset Middle School
Tellico Plains High School
Tennessee School for the Blind
The Kings Academy
The Webb School
Thompson’s Station Middle School
Thurman Francis Arts Academy
T.W. Hunter Middle School
Union County High School
Upper Cumberland United Soccer Club
Washburn High School
Westmoreland Middle School
West Wilson Middle School
White House Middle School
Whitworth-Buchanan Middle School
Woodland Middle School

Silver Standard

Coming soon.

Bronze Standard

Cheatham Soccer
Forrest High School

Safe Stars Partners

The Safe Stars Initiative is supported by statewide partners committed to improving youth sports safety and athlete well-being across Tennessee.

American Society of Shoulder and Elbow Therapists
Belmont University Athletic Department
Brain Links
Children’s Hospital Alliance of Tennessee
Children’s Hospital at Erlanger
Cumberland Pediatric Foundation
East Tennessee Children’s Hospital
LeBonheur Children’s Hospital
Lipscomb University Athletic Department
Memphis Grizzlies
Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt
Nashville Coaching Coalition
Nashville Predators

Nashville Soccer Club
Nashville Sounds
Nashville Sports Council
NFL Players Association – Nashville Former Players Chapter
Niswonger Children’s Hospital
Office of the Tennessee Attorney General
Program for Injury Prevention in Youth Sports at Vanderbilt
Safe Kids Cumberland Valley
Special Olympics Tennessee
Tennessee Academy of Family Physicians
Tennessee Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance
Tennessee Athletic Trainers Society

Tennessee Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Tennessee Children's Emergency Care Alliance
Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
Tennessee Department of Health
Tennessee Governor’s Children’s Cabinet (KidCentralTN)
Tennessee Medical Association
Tennessee Nurses Association
Tennessee Orthopedic Society
Tennessee Osteopathic Medical Association
Tennessee Recreation and Parks Association

Tennessee Physical Therapy Association
Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association
Tennessee State Soccer Association
Tennessee Tech University Athletic Department
University of Tennessee Athletic Department
Vanderbilt University Athletic Department
Vanderbilt Sports Medicine
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Resources

This section provides safety tools, training materials, policy templates, and information to help youth sports leagues meet Safe Stars safety standards.

Printed or digital copies of certain materials (e.g., Code of Conduct, Safety Policies) are available — email SafeStars.Health@tn.gov to request them.

Available Documents & Materials

Topics & Safety Guidance Areas

Browse the following topics to learn more about recommended safety practices.

External links and accessibility notice:
Some of the following resources link to external websites not managed by the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH). TDH is not responsible for the content, accessibility, or privacy practices of these external sites.

Anaphylaxis and Allergy Emergency Plan