Ep. 24: Investigating Accountability in Youth Sports Safety

Emergency planning in youth sports is only as strong as its enforcement. In this episode of Cogent Conversations, Dr. Shelly Weinstein speaks with investigative reporter Stephanie Kuzydym about her deep dive into how schools fall short of athlete safety laws.Stephanie’s “Safer Sidelines” investigation uncovered widespread failures by Kentucky high schools to comply with state emergency planning laws, revealing how gaps in oversight and enforcement leave student-athletes vulnerable. Through public records requests, data analysis, and a first-of-its-kind national database tracking athlete deaths, her reporting exposes critical gaps in oversight and enforcement of athlete safety, revealing how breakdowns in preparation and accountability can have devastating consequences.This conversation explores the role of investigative journalism in advancing athlete safety, the importance of emergency action plans in high school sports, and how transparency and accountability can help prevent future tragedies.