Concussion is no joke in high school
If national trends arrive in the north state when it comes to prep sports, expect a lot more emphasis on concussions.
It’s the hottest topic in prep sports today. Sure, competitive balance and transfer rules are still important, but with concussions it’s all about safety and long-term brain damage — certainly a higher priority.
Once again this season, Northern Section schools (and the rest of the state) will be adhering to Bylaw 313, which requires athletes suspected of suffering concussions to sit out for the remainder of the day and prevents them from returning to activity until they are evaluated by a licensed health care provider and receive written clearance to play again. This May 2010 statement is an important first step in reducing problems associated with concussions.
But take a look around the nation, and you’ll see that other areas are using much more detailed approaches to deal with the issue.
Just last week, Arizona made history by becoming the first state to require athletes to take a course and pass an exam related to concussion education. It’s a revolutionary approach to the issue. Normally coaches, parents and administrators do the learning. Arizona has passed it on to the kids, and other states are sure to follow.
New Hampshire made some changes recently that have streamlined the education process for coaches and administrators. Instead of a patchwork education program that varies from school to school, the state legislature has formalized the process.
Policies like California’s aim to stop the adverse effects of concussions soon after they occur. One of the lesser-known issues regarding concussions is the long-term problems that can evolve. Think of the stories about the NFL players from the 1970s and ’80s who suffered concussions and now pretty much have brain damage.
Just south of the Northern Section, though, a Sacramento-area school has teamed up with Wells Fargo and ImPACT Applications to help with the long-term effects. The partnership between the organizations and Del Oro High in Loomis will provide concussion medical expense benefits to athletes who suffered traumatic brain injuries. Testing, education and access to medical professionals are also part of the program.
Any step taken to reduce the danger associated with concussions is an outstanding step. And so just by following Bylaw 313, Northern Section schools are certainly doing the right thing.
What needs to be remembered is that schools can also go above and beyond the bylaw. There are opportunities here for north state schools to take ideas from other places, like Arizona or Del Oro, and integrate them into the sports culture. It’s likely to put a financial burden upon many schools, so while it’s a great idea, the practicality of adding more concussion programs to north state programs is pretty low. It’s probably already difficult enough for the rural schools to find appropriate health care professionals to sign off for kids to get back into competition.
There are also a couple myths about concussions that coaches and athletes need to know. A concussion is caused by trauma to the head, and we usually associate that with football, wrestling and maybe even basketball.
The reality is that the potential for head trauma exists in many other situations. Volleyball players dive for balls on the hardwood, so there’s potential for head vs. wood contact, not to mention player collisions. Soccer players smash into each other somewhat often, and some even run into goalposts. Cross country and track runners take spills, and heads are vulnerable if kids fall in the wrong fashion.
Kudos to the California Interscholastic Federation for addressing the issue with Bylaw 313. It’s a great start. And any Northern Section school that wants to take things to the next level should be commended.
After all, it’s about safety and reducing brain injuries. You can never do too much.