Concussion awareness – Information available to all parents, coaches and players

April 2, 2012 by justin
Filed under: News, Travel Soccer Club

ASA Board members and staff recently attended a couple of worthwhile presentations on sports-related concussions. One of the key takeaways is the need for greater awareness of symptoms, issues and aftereffects. The information below is presented in the hope that ASA families will “read and heed”. Towards the end there is also a link to a full online “course” from the NFHS that educates visitors about this issue. Please share this information with others you know in the soccer community and elsewhere.

1) The Center for Disease Control’s Fact Sheet — HEADS UP: CONCUSSION IN YOUTH SPORTS — http://www.cdc.gov/concussioninyouthsports/english/toolkit_coaches_factsheet.htm (available in English and Spanish). Discusses symptoms, treatment and general guidelines. Key point: If you think your athlete has sustained a concussion, take him/her out of play, and seek the advice of a health care professional experienced in evaluating for concussion.

2) The National Federation of State High School Associations’ online course “Concussion in Sports – What You Need To Know” – http://www.nfhslearn.com/electiveDetail.aspx?courseID=15000 . In this course you will understand the impact sports-related concussion can have on your players, how to recognize a suspected concussion, the proper protocols to manage a suspected concussion, and steps to help your player return to play safely after experiencing a concussion.

3) Heads Up! US Youth Soccer and CDC Team Up to Help Keep Young Athletes Safe from Concussion – http://www.usyouthsoccer.org/news/story.asp?story_id=5963. US Youth Soccer and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are proud to be teaming up to help protect participants of all youth sports who may be at risk of concussion. The campaign, is an expansion of the “Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports,” and will help get concussion information into the hands of coaches, parents, and school and health care professionals who are on the front-line to help identify and respond appropriately to concussions among young athletes.

Tags: concussions, head trauma, injuries, injury