Youth football league in Jefferson promotes concussion testing
Jefferson Township’s Youth Football League (JYFL) is stepping to the forefront of protecting its young athletes by joining forces with the Atlantic Neuroscience Institute Concussion Center to offer free baseline concussion tests for all players 11 years and older. The testing is not mandatory for participation in the JYFL, but it is highly recommended, and it is being promoted in parent meetings this summer.
“Taking this baseline test is in the best interests of the players,” said JYFL President Matt Millar.
Millar, who is also a member of the Jefferson Township Board of Education, is very much in favor of this procedure because he feels it will help protect |the youngsters who play |contact sports.
“I would like to see this test in all the contact sports in Jefferson,” he admitted.
The test is computer based and sets a baseline cognitive record prior to any injury. The test is called “ImPACT,” and was developed by the institute which is part of the Atlantic Health System. They have facilities at Morristown Medical Center and Overlook Medical Center. Each athlete is given the test, which is a computer based question and answer test similar to an IQ test. The questions are difficult, but the goal is not to score 100 but to set a cognitive baseline. Participants are just encouraged to take the test seriously and try their best. It takes about 20-30 minutes to finish.
The results of the test are recorded, saved and can be accessed by parents and medical providers. Everything is done under the strictest confidence and privacy rules. When an injury to an athlete is suspected, a second test is given. The two test results are compared and any differences between the results are used to gauge the severity of the injury, allowing doctors to better manage the concussion and prescribe the best treatment. In this way athletes are assured that they will not return to play before they are ready.
“We held meetings this summer to present the test to the kids’ parents,” explained JTFL Safety Coordinator Jeff Danyus.
Danyus was instrumental in working with the institute on getting this program in place.
“We stressed that this would be free, provide a clear benefit for their children’s health, and would prepare them for future sports programs and make them comfortable with the testing process,” he said, explaining that, at the high school level, concussion testing is mandatory.
At the coach/parent meetings, Cynthia Cross, a representative of the institute, explained the process and answered questions. The program was well-received by the parents, and both Millar and Danyus expect strong participation. The institute recommends that parents supervise their children when taking a home-based test. A set of guidelines and instructions for taking and accessing the test via the internet were also provided.
In addition to the test program, Millar said that the coaches in the football league are being provided additional information on concussions by the United States Department of Health Human Services. Concussions have been getting much more attention in sports, at all levels from children recreational leagues to high school, college and professional players. In contact sports such as football, a lot more studies have been done in recent years on the dangers of concussions, especially their cumulative effect on the brain. Concussions in young players are particularly worrisome as children’s brains are still developing.
The games for the JYFL begin in early September, and the divisions range from flag teams and peewee teams to varsity teams in full pads. About 165 Jefferson Township youngsters are projected to play this year. Millar and Danyus recommend all of them get the testing, and they urge parents to comply.
“We just want to protect our young players,” said Millar, “and make sure they have an enjoyable, safe experience.”