Newton’s law states that an object in motion will remain in
motion, unless acted upon by an outside force. Enter football - the most
competitive, contact-driven sport in our society. The very essence of football
is the “hit-or-be-hit” mentality. And it should come as no surprise that injuries
come with the territory.
Students all over West Tennessee are engaged in the
primetime of football season. High school playoffs are a few short weeks away,
while junior high programs will be concluded in no more than two weeks. It is a
given that one thing that players, coaches, and parents are sure to encounter
this season, if not already, is a concussion.
Headache, confusion, dizziness, nausea, slurred speech, and glassy
eyes – all symptoms of the seemingly unavoidable nature of the sport.
Recently, the NFL has agreed to a settlement regarding brain
injury/ trauma to the tune of $765 million dollars. The NCAA is seeing a concussion
lawsuit growing almost daily on their doorstep. But what about high school,
junior high and youth football? What are they doing?
While the answer is not a settlements for plaintiffs,
leagues and athletic associations around the country have and are taking
concussions more seriously than ever before. Today, coaches can’t afford to
think about if a concussion will
happen, they must think about when a
concussion will happen.
So if the injury is so pervasive among adults and young
adults alike, then what can coaches do to assist in preventing a possible
life-altering event in a young athlete’s life.
The first step to preventing a concussion is making sure
that helmets are properly fitted for each player. Helmets must not be loose,
but have a snug fit. Most youth helmets do not allow for any adjustments, so a
snug fit is requisite. For helmets that can be adjusted, typically by air, then
coaches, players and parents must be aware of this need. Educating players to
the feel of the helmet is key as parents and coaches cannot always see a need
in the fit, but must be told by the player.
The second step in concussion prevention is teaching the
proper technique: Heads up – always. Coaches and players must be aware that
tackling with the head down, or the crown of the helmet, is when most
concussions occur. Not only are players at a higher risk for concussion, but
for neck and spinal injury as well. A simple rule of thumb is to see what you
hit. If you can’t see it, then your head is down. Coaches must have a unison
voice on this most-basic principle.
The final step is to reduce the amount of full contact
drills. For decades the Oklahoma drill
and Bull in the Ring have dominated
the football landscape. These drills place players in designed head-on, violent
contact. While players who put on pads years
ago will reminisce about the glory found in running these drills, the same
results that in many times dismissed years ago are under a constant, scrutinous
eye.
Some will make the case that young players have to get ready
for that game situation, learn how to take on the contact. While it is true
that players need to be prepared for game-situations, I have yet to see a contest
where a player is surrounded by an entire team from almost every angle and has
to prove himself.
Not every full-contact drill should be eliminated from
practice. After all, kids do need to prepare and they do have to know how to
protect themselves. However, the amount of full contact drills, especially
one-on-one, head-to-head drills must be reduced. Drills that simulate real-game
scenarios can easily replace those drills that pit kids in situations where
helmet-to-helmet contact is likely. One
such drill is a chase-and-tackle. Players face each other, one as a ball
carrier and one as defender, and then go through a series of obstacles before
ending up in a designated area. If the defender falls or gets held up, the ball
carrier scores without contact – something we see in games every week.
What if a concussion still happens?
It will.
No matter how much we prepare and what prevention measures
we have in place, concussions are going to occur. You can prepare athletes for
contact coming from an opposing player, but what about the ground? The ground
is certainly an immovable force and can deal an athlete, no matter how safe and
technically sound, a tough blow. So what happens then?
Get them out of the game or practice. As soon as a symptom
shows itself, remove the player away from danger. Concussion symptoms are not
always simultaneous with a blow, but take some time to develop. Be aware. After
all, these kids are in our care.
Second, let the parents know. If mom and dad don’t know,
then that athlete is not going to get the care they deserve.
Finally, consult a physician. Many football programs have a
healthcare provider on the sidelines, yet many do not. Coaches, get parents in
touch with a health care professional if they do not have a regular physician.
Do not allow a student to return to practice or games until they have gone
through a concussion regimen and are cleared to play by a physician. As much as
we want kids out there competing, a concussion takes time to heal.
If a concussion policy is not in place where you are, then
touch base with school and program administrators and athletic directors to
begin implementation.
After all, we are talking about the brain. Take no chances.
The Center for Disease Control along with USA Football has created
Heads Up, an online resource for players, coaches, and parents. For more
practical information and training check it out at http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/HeadsUp/youth.html.
