My partner, Alex, was just 13 years old when he first stepped onto the field for a local football league. An avid fan of the game, Alex was eager to give it his all. He dedicated himself to his training, heeding his coaches’ advice, and persevering through the toughest drills. However, he never voiced his concerns as the intensity of each practice took a significant toll on his physical and mental well-being. In those days, helmet-to-helmet collisions were not just tolerated; they were actively encouraged.
“We spent the entire practice just banging our helmets into each other, as if it were a rite of passage,” Alex recalls. “You’d sprint off the line, lead with your helmet, and collide. That was just how we played, over and over again.”
Inevitably, Alex suffered minor concussions during his time on the field, but one incident left him particularly incapacitated. “I remember feeling a severe headache during practice, accompanied by a buzzing sensation in my head. After that, I was nauseous and dizzy,” he explains. “Deep down, I suspected it might be a concussion, but I was also aware that it wasn’t wise to sleep after sustaining one.”
Due to the outdated “tough it out” mentality of his coaches and the prevailing culture of toxic masculinity, Alex felt uncomfortable discussing his injuries with them. He also kept it from his parents and everyone else. While this allowed him to continue playing for several more seasons, he remained unaware of the long-lasting effects that his concussions would have.
“I didn’t fully comprehend what was happening, nor did I realize how serious it was back then – or that it was actually a brain injury,” he admits. “We were never educated about concussions in football.”
The positive news is that regulatory measures have been established across all states to improve the prevention, identification, and treatment of sports-related concussions. However, the negative aspect is that many schools lack the necessary resources and knowledge to effectively implement these new regulations.
These updated guidelines could have greatly benefitted Alex and others like him during their youth sports experiences. Unfortunately, young athletes today continue to face the same challenges Alex encountered because these regulations do not empower coaches to foster open discussions regarding head injuries. It’s understandable that schools are under pressure to update policies for student safety, but they often lack the tools needed for effective communication with their athletes.
A recent study from the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital highlights critical obstacles schools face in implementing the three main components of concussion laws: education, removing athletes from play, and ensuring a safe return to the game.
Dr. Lisa Chang, the lead researcher on the study, emphasizes the importance of dialogue with athletic trainers to overcome the barriers preventing the effective application of these policies. “These laws exist in theory, but we must explore how they’re put into practice in schools and the challenges that arise to evaluate their effectiveness,” she stated in a press release about the research.
The study revealed that the educational materials used in many schools are filled with complex medical jargon, making it difficult for parents and coaches to engage in discussions about concussion prevention. Additionally, because concussions don’t always present visible symptoms, recognizing them can be incredibly challenging.
Similar to Alex’s experience, many student athletes still feel pressured by coaches and parents to remain in the game, leading them to conceal their symptoms to avoid being seen as a liability to the team. This culture complicates the removal of athletes from the field when necessary.
Moreover, many students lack access to specialized medical care needed to properly diagnose and treat head injuries, further complicating an already difficult situation. “Concussions must be clinically diagnosed after a physician assesses the injury, evaluates the symptoms, and conducts a neurological examination,” explained Dr. Tom Edwards, co-director of the Complex Concussion Clinic at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
Unfortunately, doctors can’t even begin to evaluate a concussion if the student doesn’t have access to medical screening. As a result, numerous injuries go unreported — and worse, untreated. If sports-related concussions are left without proper care, they can lead to long-lasting effects on both the brain and body. Therefore, it is crucial for experts to focus on addressing the inherent challenges in these new policies and find effective ways for those responsible for student athletes to implement them.
In October 2019, a straightforward public service announcement gained traction as part of the “Delay Tackle” campaign, aimed at raising awareness about the risks of enrolling children in tackle football at an early age. The initiative encourages parents to postpone their children’s participation until the age of 14, as delaying exposure significantly reduces the likelihood of long-term brain injuries. “Delay Tackle” was established by the daughters of former NFL players who passed away due to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a neurodegenerative condition associated with multiple head injuries.
It’s essential to recognize that these cases of CTE are just examples of adults diagnosed posthumously. Children, whose brains are still developing, are particularly susceptible to head trauma that could have lifelong repercussions. While concussions are a primary concern, it’s also vital to consider that children under 12 who experience even minor head injuries while playing tackle football are at a significantly higher risk for clinical depression, behavioral issues, executive functioning challenges, and impulse control problems.
As a result of enduring just a few intense seasons in his early teenage years, Alex continues to grapple with the long-term effects of sports-related head injuries. “I feel like I’m prone to headaches a lot more now, and I believe that my migraine issues and other behavioral problems stem from my time playing football,” he shares. “It certainly didn’t help that I was repeatedly subjecting my brain to trauma.”
When asked if he would allow our future children to play football, Alex firmly replied, “Absolutely not.” His reasoning? “There’s no way for a child to avoid head injuries in tackle football.”
I wholeheartedly agree with Alex. It is imperative that we urgently transform the conversation surrounding youth sports to prioritize the safety of our children. With approximately two million kids and teens in the U.S. affected by sports-related concussions each year, it’s time to make it easier and more practical for coaches and parents to protect student athletes both on and off the field. For more insights on this topic, you can visit this blog post.
In summary, the implementation of concussion laws in high school sports remains fraught with challenges, as many schools lack the resources and education necessary to create a safe environment. It is crucial for coaches, parents, and medical professionals to work collaboratively to ensure that student athletes are protected from the devastating effects of head injuries.