Concussions

The sport of soccer has a common problem that exists with many contact sports, the risk of concussions.  This nationwide problem was recognized by US Youth Soccer in 2011.  US Youth Soccer took steps to partner with the Center for Disease Control, in placing CDC information on concussions on their web site.

Concussions have been a relatively unknown factor for soccer coaches, as the topic has essentially never surfaced.  This does not mean that concussions have not existed in soccer, it just simply means that concussions may have not been diagnosed, or handled based on incomplete/false assumptions.  Leagues for the most part may not have provided information to coaches, parents, or themselves, for learning how to identify and properly handle a player with a concussion.  This serious topic has escaped the limelight for years.  The same has existed in other sports.  The focus on concussions was brought to the attention of the public through many stories surfacing from the NFL, regarding concussions to football players, and related corresponding research.  This has led to increasing awareness and protective measures applied to protect players of the National Football League (NFL).  There has also been movement in various state legislative bodes to pass laws regarding concussions (California is passing SB 25).

What is a concussion? 

¨ A concussion is a brain injury, sometimes referred to as traumatic brain injury (TBI).  It can cause current and future problems with the health of an individual, depending on treatment and severity.

What can cause a concussion? 

¨ A blow to the head

¨ A violent collision with another player, goal post,  or the ground.

¨ Being struck in the head by a ball

¨ An improper snap of the head, attempting to head a ball

¨ See brain reaction here

The concussion is caused by the violent whiplash shaking of the brain inside of the skull.  A concussion can be an invisible injury.  There is a false misconception that a person blacks out when they get a concussion.  This is not correct, as a person can receive a concussion and not black out.  It simply depends on the person and the circumstances of the concussion  All concussions are serious and must be reviewed by medical personnel.

 



The following videos will provide concussion information, from the victims view:

 High School Player 

Comeback player

Don-t Hide It, Report it! #1

Don't Hide It, Report it! #2 

 
How do you tell if a player has suffered a concussion?  The player may:

 What do you do if a concussion is suspected in a player?

Review the symptoms that a player may have.  One field test is to mention something to a player and have them walk to the furthest flag pole on the field and back.  Ask them to repeat what was mentioned to them, before they took the walk.  This could give an indication of how the brain is processing information, and memory retention.  If they do not recall what was spoken about, they are done playing for the day.  In all cases where it is felt that the player may have a concussion, the player should be immediately pulled from play and they should not return to play until they have been cleared by a medical professional.

The following videos describe concussion symptoms:

     What are the symptoms of concussion

     Difference Between Signs Of A Concussion And Symptoms

     Recognizing Sports Concussions:  Keep Youth Athletes Safe  (13 min., very good)

What are the consequences of a player continuing to play with a concussion?

It has been identified that young children are more subsceptible to problems from concussions, due to the developmental stages of their brain.  There is also a condition termed ‘second impact syndrome’ (SIS), which can affect anyone with a concussion.  This occurs when a party that has received a concussion receives another concussion, before the brain is allowed to heal.  This can delay recovery, and could potentially cause long-term health consequences.  Concussions are essentially nothing to be trifled with, and definitely not ‘toughed out’. 

Post-concussion syndrome 

A post-concussion syndrome can develope when concussions symptoms persists for weeks/months.  These are reocurring symptoms, such as headaches or dizziness.   An individual with post-concussion syndrome may exhibit symptoms of a person having Attention Deficit Disorder, Adjustment disorder, or a mood disorder.  There have been reports of sufferers reporting memory and socialization problems, frequent headaches and personality changes.

 

Standard tests typically do not show any form of brain damage.  A person with Post-concussion syndrome may be considered to be a 'hot head', having a 'short fuse', or as having either a mood disorder or anger problem, or as having a personality or psychological disorder.

Case example video.

The following site has demonstrative information on parties that have suffered from Post-concussion syndrome:   http://www.sportsconcussions.org/ibaseline/ 

To see an example of what Post-concussion disorder can do to a young athlete, view this.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  has concussion information posted on their site at http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/HeadsUp/youth.html.  They give comprehensive information on concussions, with links to other sites also. 

There are specific packages tuned to coaches, players, and parents, giving information that they need to diagnose concussions.  The following lists the Concussion ‘fact sheet’, from the CDC, for each soccer party 

For Coaches: http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/pdf/coaches_Engl.pdf

For Parents: http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/pdf/parents_Eng.pdf

For Players: http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/pdf/athletes_Eng.pdf

The above information comes from the training packages that the CDC has put together, which contain a wealth of information on concussions.  The following shows the packages and the materials in each package on the CDC site:

The CDC site has an excellent training material, available on-line, and on a training disk that you can request.  This disk must be ran on a computer. 

Review the offered material at http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/HeadsUp/online_training.html .  If you wish to request the training material on disk, send a request to: 

     ncipcdirinfo@cdc.gov

     Use a subject line with the following:  Request For Training Disk
 

 
US Youth Soccer

On the US Youth Soccer education site, you can take the CDC concussion course on-line, through US Youth Soccer.  This course has a certificate that you get when you have  completed the course.  You must be a registered user on the US Youth Soccer site, or you may register when logging in:  The following shows the screen presented, and what you need to do for registration:

Go to the following site to register/log-in:     https://education.usyouthsoccer.org/





After you have registered, you may log in and select the concussion course.  You do not have to complete the course all at once, as the site tracks and keeps your progress.  When you log in, it will show you the course(s) that you are taking and your progress in the course, as follows:


LOGIN WINDOW:







COURSE HISTORY WINDOW:





SPORTSCONCUSSIONS.ORG

This site is dedicated to concussion awareness.  It has a good collection of concussion related information, including videos.  The data on this site can be eye opening, especially the videos.  Take the opportunity to view the information presented.

                                        http://www.sportsconcussions.org/ibaseline/

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What leagues need to review regarding concussions


The following portrays a common soccer incident

 

What rules/procedures does the league have in handling a potential concussion situation? 

Have coaches been shown information that will enable them to protect the safety of their players, by being able to better identify a concussion and take action on it?

With concussions, it is paramount that all parties concerned, coaches, parents, and players, are made aware of the signs of a concussion.  What has been done to insure that this has happened?

 Does the league maintain a library of concussion related information for presentation at registrations, for curious parents/coaches?

 Is a league mechanism established to receive/process a medical clearance from a doctor, authorizing a player to return to play?

League Developed Concussion Program

· Program needs to be researched and documented by a person, or league committee with progress checks established, to report to the league board.  ‘Concussions awareness forms’ would have to be created for coaches/players/parents.  At the same time, the board will need to pinpoint the part that will be responsible for the enforcement of the league program.  This would include the receival and review of all required signed Concussion Awareness forms from coaches, players, and parents. 

· League board needs to review proposed program and vote on it.

· The handling of the forms would require additional pressure to the league’s system, as these forms should be signed and handed in before play starts.  For parents and players to sign the forms, some thought would have to be given to how/when this might be accomplished.

· New league policy will need to be dispersed to the personnel working with recreational and competitive teams.  Pre-season meetings, well in advance of coaches getting teams would need to be held.

· All of the above will require a good degree of new documentation to be prepared, or incorporation of existing documentation from the CDC into a league coherent program.

· If leagues are going to require that all of their coaches and assistants be trained, there would be work to do.  All coaches and assistant coaches would be notified that this meeting would be required, for them to receive coaching credentials.  Both the coach and assistant coach need to be fully aware of concussions and the league policy, as one of them might be handling the team on their own during season play.

The above is just a quick review of a potential policy creation strategy. Overall, it will take time, and will be labor intensive.  There are potential ways to make it a lot less of an impact, for all leagues, but this is for the leagues to think out.  Sportsconcussions.org offers some good suggestions for leagues looking to implement a concussion policy here.

 Possible Stumbling Blocks

· Resistance from competitive thinking parties (a person that may be inclined to tell a player to 'tough it out', to get the player back on the field quickly.  May also take the form of a coach that indicates to a player sitting out that 'we sure could use you'.  In their perspective, the game comes first, not the player.  Young players are very susceptible to comments from their coach.

· Lack of volunteer(s) to initially spear head project

· Lack of league consensus on concussions

· Lack of volunteers to monitor/enforce project

· Lack of volunteer to document project

· Poor committee operation

· Lack of league administrative leadership to push the project

 






General Health And Well Being of Soccer Players

                                                   

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