When In Doubt, Sit The Player Out

Maybe I have spent far too much time recently watching games, both pro and amateur, that left me aching after seeing some rather severe physical blows to the body of players.

I know football and hockey require contact. And just maybe I'm among the small numbers noticing that no matter how many rules, or even the quality of good and safe equipment, players are taking some punishing jolts to the most important part of the body: the head.

It got me thinking about long term effects from concussions suffered in high school football or hockey. And, by the way, girls also get concussions from sports - like a rough hit in a flag football game or having that hard ball from a field hockey stick accidentally hit a player.

Hearing the crack of a head during a game can send a chill up your spine. There are sports that don't require protective head gear - like rugby and soccer - and blows to the head should light up some signals to youngsters, parents and even coaches.

I am not suggesting banning school sports or having everyone wear concrete helmets. This is just an opinion about what appears to be increasing worries, long term concerns and maybe memory impairment after someone has taken a severe knock to the head. There are plenty of research papers and documents on this topic.

I have been trying to get some fresh Canadian statistics on sports-related concussions in high school sports. No luck, so far. In the United States, they call concussions an epidemic with an estimated number of between two and just over 3.5 million. That's a scary number.

I know in the Greater Toronto Area, that not every high school has a licensed athletic trainer or medical personnel at every game. On many occasions, there isn't even a first aid box beside the official scorer. I even question whether many coaches and teachers know what to do in an emergency or is it dialing three numbers - 911.

At a football game I was at recently, standing on the sideline I witnessed two players collide - helmet to helmet. Play stopped, one player got up quickly. The other needed about 10 minutes, and he left the field likely hearing lots of birds chirping. It got me thinking: who has the final say on whether the player returns to the game?

Alarming statistics in the U.S., and as recent as 2008, claim 41 per cent of high school athletes who suffered concussions returned to play far too soon. Coaches play a huge role in helping to prevent serious injury and in managing it properly if a concussion occurs.

Montreal researchers, in a study of former university athletes now in their 50s and 60s who suffered concussions, found a noticeable decline in the their mental processes. This was compared to former athletes who didn`t have an injury to the head.

Many of us have heard the phrase "when in doubt, sit the player out".

But, does it always happen?

Comments

[Big John]

Found this very interesting. Well done. This is something all coaches MUST read.

[JK]

This is so very true and people need to understand that the opportunity for head injuries is far higher at school sports. There are some coaches who care more about winning. Like many other things you will see that no one cares until the lawyer calls.

[Smiley]

You can also bang your head slipping on a basketball court and I have seen it happen.

[Mr. Cochrane]

No matter how many stories on this topic and there have been several in the newspaper, the message does not sink in until it is too late. Tragic.

[Dober]

Schools need to understand this more and not treat it as a bruise.

[Concerned Parent]

Even with knowledgeable people in medical care watching from the sidelines, I believe they still can't stop young people from suffering head injuries.
It's all part of the world of contact sport and, in football, how some players might take a chance at tackling another, maybe because their team is losing or simply a bone head thing and only have to pay the price of a penalty.
Meanwhile another player has problems for life.

[Sam McKoy]

It all comes down to education and a bit of luck.
If I was a player now, I'll take my chances on luck moreso than education because from what I see at football games neither the majority of coaches or the officials are serious anymore about kids and getting injured. They blame kids for not being in shape rather than teaching them the fundamentals of the game and benching them for taking stupid penalties and making idiotic tackles.
It's also more about winning for coaches and getting paid for the guys in those white and black uniforms.

[KK]

One way to avoid a head injury, don't play sports.

[Billy Craig]

People have to get firm with students and if there is a deliberate attempt to injure with a head tackle, kick the kid off the team, suspend him and make him learn from the mistake. There are also accidents and cases when the person suffering the injury was at fault. Still, it doesn't solve the problem of concussions suffered by teenagers.

[Barry]

Maybe we need a vaccination for concusions too.

[Mr. Mitchell]

Wasn't there some kind of conference in Canada last January that mentioned concussions. What ever came out of it. Nothing.
Sadly, some kid will die in sports before they decide to spend money on some commission and recommendations but it doesn't bring back any lives.
Same thing for rugby when that Mississauga kid died.

[Nick]

I really don't think there are many students who get a concussion in high school sports. You're just stirring things up like they're doing with this swine flu.

[Michael T.]

I remember getting hit in the head in a football game and had to sit out a game. Then when I got belted into the boards in a school hockey game and fell down I knew it was time to try non-contact sports and my parents didn;'t want me getting belted in the head again simply to say that I played for my high school team. I was worried about any problems for the rest of my life. Now, I am playing tennis and swimming for my school.

[Youth Football Coach]

If you were to actually talk to a Coach or Trainer of a High School , Summer or Fall league team. They would tell you that all head injuries are treated very seriously . The Player(s) involved are remove from the game and not permiteed to return to play or practice with out examination's and Doctor's and Qulified Trainers written Clearence to the coaching staff . I've seen take some times several weeks into months before a clearence and to play resume . Your being an Alarmest in Quoting U S related Stats on the subjet because you unable to find any Canadian Stats on it. Perhaps the lack of stats here on the mater may be an indicator that the way that we in canada are treating this mater from the bottom up with great care. Safty for the players and Insurance concerns make the Teams and Leagues to always take these maters seriously.

[Mr. G.B. Elliott]

That Youth Football Coach with no name is not telling it like it is. I am an uncle of a player who was hit in the head during a football game. He sat a quarter and wanted to return to the game and being as good as he was he did with the coaches permission. It happens all the time. Later that night, he complained of a headache and his mother took him to the hospital. He suffered a concussion. He learned a lesson. He's not playing contact sports anymore. While I can appreciate there are some very good coaches that guy is covering his butt and also distorting things. He also needs a lesson in grammar and spelling.

[Parent]

Ever think that maybe Canada doesn't have any up-to-date information on injuries in school sports. By the way, whoever plays contact sports has to understand that they are taking a risk.