2008 Soccer Industry Medical Symposium
SIMS enters its third year poised for continued growth

NEW YORK (October 24, 2007) -- The 2008 Soccer Industry Medical Symposium announced its third annual event will return to Ft. Lauderdale, FL and take place on Saturday, January 12th (www.psats.net).

"SIMS started as a meeting to share scientific and clinical information with the MLS team physicians and athletic trainers but the content and participants have expanded rapidly since its beginning" said MLS Medical Director, Lawrence Lemak. "Because of the tremendous interest in the topics and the expansion of medical soccer information the meeting has grown into the source for answers on soccer medical information." Participants in the 2007 event represented all thirteen MLS teams, CONCACAF, the United States Soccer Federation, the Canadian Soccer Association, the Mexican First Division and many other corporate partners and professional associations.

"The spectacular popularity of soccer among youth means that we can develop the finest models of safety and fitness for all sports. By working with professional soccer, and the Soccer Industry Medical Symposium, we're excited by the idea of developing an educational collaboration that can attract international interest and improve health and safety issues in soccer," said Jeff Konin, PhD, ATC, PT, of the University of South Florida�s Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. The University of South Florida is partnering with Major League Soccer to offer continuing education credits to sports medicine professionals at�multiple levels and areas of expertise.

The 2008 Soccer Industry Medical Symposium has created a curriculum focused on hip arthroscopy, cardiac emergencies and heart issues, concussion management and hydration/heat illness. Scheduled guest speakers include:

Introduction
Ivan Gazidis: Deputy Commissioner, Major League Soccer

Hip Arthroscopy
- Pathophysiology of Hip Injuries: Dr. Mike Gerhardt, Chivas USA Team Physician & Orthopeadic Surgeon
- Diagnosis and Treatment of Hip Injuries: Dr. Thomas Byrd, Tennessee Titans Team Physician and Physician for the U.S. Olympic Team
- Rehabilitation of the injured Hip: Michael Voight, PT, Board of Directors of the International Federation of Sports Physical Therapy

Cardiac Emergencies/Heart Issues
- Cardiac Screening: Dr. Christine Lawless, Director, Section of Preventive and Sports Cardiology, The Ohio State University
- US Soccer and FIFA Cardiac Screening: Dr. Bert Mandelbaum, MLS Assistant Medical Director, Pepperdine University Team Physician, U.S. Soccer Federation Team Physician, FIFA Medical Research and Assessment Center, Associate Member

Hydration & Nutrition
- Heat-Related Illness in the Elite Soccer Athlete: Dr. Eric Coris, Director of the Sports Medicine Institute & Head Medical Team
Physician for the Department of Athletics at the University of South Florida
- Hydration in the Soccer Athlete: TBA, Gatorade Sports Science Institute

Head Injuries
- Concussion Management: Ruben Echemendia, PhD, President-elect, National Academy of Neuropsychology
- Head Injuries: Mark Lovell, PhD, Founding Director, The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Sports Medicine Concussion Program

"We are excited to once again be involved in the Soccer Industry Medical Symposium. This event continues to be the premier event for medical information in the sport of soccer. The Professional Soccer Athletic Trainers' Society (PSATS) strives to provide our members and the medical community in general, with the latest advances in continuing education and SIMS is the perfect event for that. We are excited to share this event with athletic trainers, physical therapist, and doctors involved in the care of soccer athletes." said Theron Enns, ATC, Head Athletic Trainer with the Colorado Rapids and PSATS President.

Based upon the success of the 2007 event, the 2008 SIMS will make available one hundred (100) positions to qualified sports medicine professionals approved through the on-line registration available at www.cme.hsc.usf.edu/soccer/. Sports medicine professionals are approved to receive continuing education credits for this course through the University of South Florida.�Details are offered on the SIMS and USF�websites.

Additional information about event registration, corporate supporters, travel and transportation information and other details about the 2008 Soccer Operations Seminar is available at www.psats.net.

About SIMS
The Soccer Industry Medical Symposium (SIMS) is an annual meeting organized by sports medicine professionals in Major League Soccer, United States Soccer Federation and its partners. For more information about SIMS, log onto the company's official website at www.psats.net.

About Major League Soccer
Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer is the top-flight professional soccer league in the United States and features many stars from the U.S. and around the world. In its 12th season, the 13 teams in MLS are: Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, Club Deportivo Chivas USA, Columbus Crew, D.C. United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, Kansas City Wizards, Los Angeles Galaxy, Red Bull New York, New England Revolution and Real Salt Lake and 2007 expansion team Toronto FC. For more information about MLS, log on to the League's official website at www.MLSnet.com.