Should Athletes Be Allowed To Play With Concussions

Surveys were conducted among athletic trainers to see their institution’s policies. Approximately forty seven percent of trainers stated that their institution had a scripted policy regarding concussion management. Forty percent admitted that they did not have any policy regarding concussions. Fewer than one-third of respondents reported academic policies at their clinic. Institutions with more trainers are more likely to implement academic accommodations for injured athletes. The NCAA provides policies regarding concussions and its athletes. It is required that an athletic trainer inform the athletic teams of concussions and how to prevent them. The trainer will also provide them with the signs and symptoms to help identify a

In sports, the best athletes are the individuals that give each team a chance to win every game. The bad news for the best athletes is that sometimes their health gets put second to their abilities. Roughly 1.8 to 3.6 million sports related concussions happen each year (Concussion Statistics). Stronger and faster athletes as well as more impact of the hits or falls have doubled the number of concussions in a decade (Concussion Statistics). Concussions can happen to every athlete, but when it happens to the star athletes, it is different. Schools have to follow direct concussion safety laws, but professional sports have more leniencies (Get). Wins are more important in the professional leagues compared to the high school and amateur levels.

In the world of football, big hits are something that are looked at in a positive light. They are seen as a way of asserting dominance over other players and it is celebrated by teammates. Big hits are a very crucial, almost necessary, part of the game that millions of people gather to watch every Sunday. However, in the past decade, the NFL and other organization have realized that concussions can lead to very serious problems later in life. One of these problems is known as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). It is a degenerative brain disease, much like Alzheimer’s, that mainly effects individuals in high contact sports such as boxing or football. Over time, this connection between concussions and CTE has become more common knowledge and more people have started asking the question “do the risks of children playing football outweigh the benefits?”. The answer to this question is yes, football is entirely too violent for children to be playing. According to “Big Hits, Broken Dreams”, one in ten football players gets a concussion, and 35% of players have more than one. The video also states that only 50% of high schools in the United States have a certified athletic trainer on the field (CNN, 2012). If concussions are really a concern for the schools, then why are there not more athletic trainers on staff at these schools to deal with sports injuries? This also forces the public to question these schools even more because if they are willing to cut costs and not hire a

In the United States alone, athletes account for about 300,000 concussions each year (11 Facts). A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that causes swelling of the brain 's soft tissue and disrupts normal brain function (Concussion). A concussion has potential to impact memory and coordination for the rest of the athlete 's life along with lead to other, more serious, brain injuries. In order for athletes to reduce the effects from concussions, they need to be educated on the symptoms, ways to avoid the injury, and the possible lifelong effects.

Coaches make an impact on their players. The players could look up to them or be their role model. They also trust their coach’s judgement. This could mean that they trust their play calling. If the player thinks they have a concussion, but their coach thinks they don’t, so they might keep playing; For example, according to Dr. Munro Cullum, who is a professor of psychiatry, neurology and neurotherapeutics. A coach might think that his quarterback has a concussion, but he needs to keep playing so we can win the game (Foster). Not only do they might be biased about their own players having concussions, they also might be teaching them to lead with their head. Another way a coach could affect a play is that coaches might teach their players that they are at war and that they need to inflict pain on others (MaGrath). This shows that they might be teaching them to lead with their head. According to Dr. Munro Cullum, some players will think they will lose their spot if they are concussed, so they don’t tell their

While in recent years there has been increasing awareness of the topic of concussions there is still much to be accomplished in the way of education of youth sport participants including

A concussion, which could be caused by a small head movement, is no minor issue as it could lead to brain trauma. Many people are affected by it and many more are vulnerable to it. But the impact isn't the real issue. The real issue is with the lack of healing and recovery. Healing time is crucial when it comes to head injuries and, according to the CDC, most athletes get around 7 days to recover compared to the recommended 1-2 months! Athletes sometimes don't even get time to recover and this could lead to long term effects in life. According to my personal experience, my ability to focus has been greatly reduced because of a concussion. This is a serious issue that is often overlooked my coaches and parents because of their pride and overconfidence in the child. Due to the fact that concussions could lead to permanent brain damage, discomfort, and long term illness, student athletes should be excluded from any athletics until a full recovery had been accomplished.

Repeated concussions from any trauma can cause permanent brain damage. Because of this I believe athletes should be forced to sit out longer and be examined more throughly before being cleared to return to play. Some players do not sit out long enough for their brains to fully heal, and they are left vulnerable as they return to play. If an athlete isn't properly treated it can have long term effects on their brain, or it could even result in losing simple cognitive skills such as attention and judgement. I think we should have more protection against concussions, and more protocol to protect the players at risk. Even if an athlete has to sit out one more game, or the rest of their career, it is better than the potential brain damage for the

Athletes with head trauma should be required to sit out of the game until their head is fully healed. Although a medical professional signs a paper allowing them to go back into the game, they should not take advantage of that by starting right away. After concussions, teenage athletes should take it easy so their brain has the proper time it needs to heal. Concussions are a serious injury. They can have long lasting impacts and are more likely to reoccur during the same season. In contrast, in order for athletes to return to the game, a doctor has to sign forms allowing them to do so. Doctors are licensed professionals, so the athlete's head injury can't be too severe if they are able to play again. In addition, new equipment that helps prevent concussions is being created.

Although making helmet to helmet hits illegal will cause lower body injuries, helmet to helmet hits should be illegal in the NFL for two main reasons. First, Helmet to helmet hits causes concussions, but most importantly, after retirement, players who received several concussions develop serious medical conditions. All this proves that the NFL is doing a good thing for the players and what they are doing is going to help the players in the future. It is proven that players who received concussions during their career develop brain damage after they retired. After doing all the research on this topic, I would have to agree with the NFL by making the Helmet to helmet rule in play in order to decrease concussions, even though the players may dislike

Think about this, “how many people have had a concussion this year?” Probably more than one can count on one hand. On average there is close to 2.5 million concussions in the US that are caused by sports or recreational activities. In high school sports alone, “High school athletes are three times more likely to sustain catastrophic injuries than those people in college” (Gorgens.) Getting a concussions does not only cause physical pain, it can cause mental problems. There needs to be more precautions taken in protecting the players.

Most states have three action steps that must be used in order to provide maximum safety for the athletes that are playing the games. The first step is to “educate coaches, parents, and athletes.” By educating coaches, parents, and athletes about the possibility of getting a concussion while playing a sport, they will all know what to look for if there is ever a hard hit to the

It’s important to try and get parents involved with the rules and law for concussions. The graph above shows that concussions haven’t changed at all over the past year of years in general. The graph doesn’t really help the laws point on why it’s good. If anything it hurts in more than try to convince parents and or guardians that it can and will help improve concussion problems. Many of the politicians say that kids may be the blame for the problem. How they play and approach the sport. Can affect the outcome of the injuries or injuries of other athletes. Kids do have a lot of affected on how they can receive a concussion or head injury. But many parents believe the politician are just making excuses.

A concussion is a matter of the player's lifestyle and whether or not they play for the rest of their career in sporting. This can all be avoided though if when the injury occurs they sit out longer, instead of hopping back into the game before healing is dry and damage it more because of some petty faults and ideals. This is valuable because the damage is permanent and that is a faulty way of living when it'd have been avoided. The first concussion only opens a gate for more damage to be done to the brain which has only so much defense and the idea of amnesia or other forms of memory loss that would be gathered if not dealt with in rest. These are worthy points to heed as the details are thickened to have you hear and read and only you can decide as this is only a paper not the government.

Athletes and coaches should know how they can prevent a concussion and tell when someone has one. First of all coaches should educate athletes on concussions and everything they know about head injuries. They need to do this so the athletes understand the harm of a concussion and what can happen when they get one. This helps stop kids and help them think about doing something idiotic and dangerous and getting a concussion. Then make sure all kids and athletes are wearing protective gear designated for their activity or sport. This can greatly decrease the amount of concussions caused by physical sports.In addition coaches should be able to recognize of someone may have a concussion. Look for symptoms of a concussion, this can be flickering