One of the leading concerns for those who participate or administrate youth sports programs is the issue of safety and injury prevention.It should always be priority one.
Recently, the NFL took steps to beef up its protection of players from themselves by mandating that "outside" medical experts clear athletes who have suffered concussion symptoms during games.
The Steelers were the first team to suffer when they lost QB Ben Roethlisberger. The ensuing comments from WR Hines Ward--intimating that perhaps Ben should have been able to play in spite of his lingering concussion symptoms--illustrates the problem that will trickle down to the lower levels of play. The "warrior mentality" that players should play regardless of whether or not they are "dinged" up a little bit. Players lie about concussion symptoms in order to continue to play. They learn the "correct" answers to the questions that will keep them on the field. The lower the level of play, the greater the chance there will not be qualified medical personnel on hand to evaluate the injured players. Experts say the injury risks are greater for adolescent athletes due to the fact that their brains are still developing. Given some of the recent data regarding early dementia and brain trauma injuries from retired NFL players, the risks are too great to take any chances.
Nationwide, 58 percent of high schools do not have a certified athletic trainer available for players, according to the National Athletic Trainers’ Association. Many sideline physicians have little experience in the subtleties of concussion management.
Some guidelines from the website saferchild.org are posted below regarding concussions, but education is needed to break down the so-called "warrior mentality" and protect these players not only from the inherent injury risks involved from participation in high school sports, but from themselves as well. The cultural values and traditions from the professional level should never be the same as those employed by younger athletes. There are significantly different risks and rewards.
http://www.saferchild.org/general3.htm
A study published in the February issue of Journal of Neurosurgery suggests that high school athletes who suffer mild concussions might still be suffering the effects even if symptoms have abated. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Sports Medicine Concussion Program, said that athletes can continue to have memory problems and neurological difficulties for as long as a week after injury. Current guidelines are for injured athletes to go back into play if symptoms are gone within 15 minutes. The researchers say their study indicates that if a child is suspected of suffering a concussion, the child should be removed from the game, and then properly evaluated by a medical professional before being allowed to play again. "When in doubt,: an investigator said, "send them out."
PROTECTION - For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways; - Psalm 91:11
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