When my partner Jake was just 13, he eagerly joined his first football team. A passionate fan of the sport, Jake was determined to give it his all. He pushed himself relentlessly, followed his coaches’ advice, and endured the toughest moments on the field. Yet, he never voiced his concerns about how the grueling practices impacted his physical and mental well-being. Back then, helmet-to-helmet hits were not only common but often encouraged.
“We’d spend practice just banging our helmets against each other, seemingly for eternity,” Jake recalls. “You’d sprint off the line, lead with your helmet, and collide. That was simply how we played.” Unsurprisingly, Jake suffered from minor concussions during his time on the field, but one particular incident left him feeling especially unwell. “I remember getting a terrible headache during practice, and everything felt fuzzy. After that, I was nauseous and dizzy,” he says. “Deep down, I knew it was a concussion; I told myself not to sleep because I had heard that was dangerous.”
With coaches promoting a “tough it out” mentality and the culture of toxic masculinity prevailing, Jake never felt comfortable discussing his head injuries. He kept his struggles to himself, not confiding in his parents or anyone else. While this enabled him to play for several more seasons, he was unaware of the long-term consequences of his concussions.
“I didn’t fully grasp what was occurring, and I certainly didn’t realize how serious they were back then – or that I was even dealing with a brain injury,” he admits. “We never talked about concussions in football.”
Fortunately, regulations have been established in every state aimed at improving the prevention, identification, and treatment of sports-related concussions. However, many schools lack the necessary resources and knowledge to effectively implement these rules. These regulations could have significantly benefited athletes like Jake, yet young athletes continue to face the same hurdles he encountered. These guidelines don’t empower coaches to foster a safe environment for discussing head injuries, making it difficult to ensure the safety of student athletes.
A recent study from the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital highlights the obstacles schools face in executing the three essential components of concussion laws: education, removing athletes from play, and facilitating their return. Dr. Amy Johnson, the lead investigator, emphasizes the need for open communication with athletic trainers to tackle the barriers that hinder policy implementation. “These laws exist on paper, but we need to examine how they’re applied in schools and the challenges involved to evaluate their effectiveness,” Johnson states in a press release.
The study found that many educational materials used in schools are filled with complicated medical jargon, making it challenging for parents and coaches to engage with them effectively. Additionally, the absence of visible symptoms makes identifying concussions particularly difficult. Just like Jake, many student athletes still feel pressure to stay in the game at all costs, leading them to hide their symptoms, complicating their removal from play.
Moreover, countless students lack access to specialized medical care necessary for properly diagnosing and treating head injuries, compounding an already complex issue. “Concussions require clinical diagnosis after a doctor assesses the injury, evaluates the symptoms, and conducts a neurological exam,” explains Dr. Mark Smith, co-director of the Concussion Clinic at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Unfortunately, without proper medical screening, many injuries go unreported and untreated, which can have lasting effects on a child’s brain and body.
In October 2019, a powerful PSA as part of the “Tackle Can Wait” campaign went viral, raising awareness about the dangers of enrolling children in tackle football too early. The initiative encourages parents to wait until their kids are at least 14, as delaying exposure to tackle football significantly reduces the risk of long-term brain injuries. “Tackle Can Wait” was launched by the daughters of former NFL players who succumbed to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a neurodegenerative disease associated with repeated head injuries.
It’s essential to note that these cases are just two examples of adults diagnosed with CTE posthumously. Children, however, have developing brains that are particularly susceptible to the effects of head trauma, which can have lifelong implications.
In addition to concussions, it’s crucial to recognize that children under 12 who sustain even mild head injuries while playing tackle football are at a higher risk of experiencing clinical depression, behavioral issues, and difficulties with impulse control.
As a result of just a few intense seasons as a young teen, Jake continues to battle the lingering effects of sports-related head injuries. “I feel like I’m prone to headaches often, and I suspect my migraines and other emotional challenges stem from football,” he shares. “Banging my head around for so long didn’t help.”
When asked if he would allow our children to play football, Jake firmly says no. His reasoning? “There’s no way for a child to avoid head injuries in tackle football.” I wholeheartedly agree with him. It’s clear that we can no longer delay conversations that critically impact our youth. With approximately two million children and teenagers in the U.S. suffering from sports-related concussions annually, it’s time to streamline efforts to protect our students both on and off the field.
For further insights on this topic, check out related discussions on home insemination and visit this authoritative resource for more information. If you’re seeking guidance on pregnancy and home insemination, this excellent resource is also available.
In summary, high school sports are facing significant challenges in enforcing concussion regulations, largely due to a lack of resources and communication. While new laws have been established to protect young athletes, their effectiveness is hindered by outdated mindsets and insufficient support. The urgency to prioritize student safety in sports cannot be overstated, especially with the alarming rates of concussions among youth athletes.