For the last decade, football has been at the epicenter of concussion-related injuries, resulting in several rule changes. These changes, of course, are never easy to adapt to for players. The rules affect the way players play the game especially on the defensive side of the ball. The rules have changed the way teams now prepare their season. Per the Collective Bargaining Agreement of the National Football League players are required to only participate in 14 padded practices.
These same rules have affected football teams at the college and high school level. In 2016 Dartmouth College and The Ivy League Conference restricts the number of hours devoted to athletics. That same effect has been put in place for schools in Ohio. The Ohio High School Athletic Association just recently made changes in regards to player safety.
These rules are in place because of the long-term effects to help reduce injuries including concussions. Now there might not be any particular strategy to reduce injury. Injuries are part sports. Whether minor or catastrophic it happens. Even with the reduction of practice times players are still subject especially other sports. Former New York Yankees Pitcher Mariano Rivera tore a ligament in his knee “shagging” fly balls during pre-game warm-ups. Jacksonville Jaguars Defensive End, Dante Fowler Jr. tore his left Anterior Cruciate Ligament(ACL) during his first practice at rookie mini-camp. The same can be said for concussions. It seems that no matter what might be done, it’s difficult to avoid injuries. The difference in sports like football is the violent nature of the game. According to data by the National Academies of Press, the concussion rate for high school football is number one at 11.6 per 10,000 exposures while women’s soccer and men’s lacrosse at 6.7 and 6.9. Though the rate is not nearly the number that football is, the sample size still proves that the rate is high. This, of course, should not go ignored which in any case is no longer that way.
Brandin Johnson, a student athletic trainer at Wilmington College says that he’s treated many athletes with several injuries. But it’s concussions that are obviously out to the forefront. Johnson says that every injury in every sport is just as important.
“[As a Trainer] any player is treated with a concussion they are all treated equally”. said Johnson.
Johnson says that each athlete as a protocol that must adhere to in, by first avoiding contact and two being symptom-free. After going through that then the student-athlete can be cleared to resume activities.
Theopolis K. Caldwell Sr. 