TeamSnap Logo
Log inFind My Team
  • Solutions
    • For Business
      For Business

      Tools for clubs, leagues, tournament organizers, and associations to run their business

      For Teams
      For Teams

      For coaches, players & fans to stay connected on our top-rated mobile app

      Promo image
      • Overview
      • Program ManagementManage all aspects of your organization
      • SponsorshipAccess our network of opportunities
      • RegistrationPayments, dues, and more
      • TournamentsBuild and manage your events
      • PaymentsA better way to manage payments
      • Website BuilderProfessional & mobile friendly sites
      • SchedulingAutomate games & practices
      • Services & SupportIndustry-leading account support
      • MessagesSimple, reliable communication
      • Get started!Chat with our team right now
  • Pricing
  • Resources
    • Community

      Our mission is to enhance the lives of kids by enabling participation in sport

        Other resources
        • Blog
        • Coaches’ Corner
        • For Business Resources
        • TeamSnap Updates
        • Help Center
        Company
        • About
        • Careers
        • Partners
    • For Brands
      • Build relationships in the moments that matter.

        Convert families into superfans with TeamSnap for brands.

          • OverviewThe #1 way to reach the Chief Household Officer
          • AudienceLearn about our audience and network
          • CapabilitiesExplore our products and measurement solutions
          • Download Media Kit

      Find My Team

      Sign upLog in
      Sign upLog in
      BlogSports Parents
      • General Sports
      • Health and Safety
      • Coaching
      • for Business
      • Announcements
      Featured image: A Concussion Epidemic?

      Nov 05, 2012 • 4 min read

      A Concussion Epidemic?

      /images/teamsnap-badge.png
      Emily Cohen

      Posted in:
      • Sports Parents

      youth football concussions 2Over the past few weeks, my Facebook news feed has lit up with news of friends’ children suffering concussions due to football, including these highlights:

      “Just back from Children’s Hospital. Concussion. Out of football for 2 weeks!”

      “Mild concussion. Sidelined for a week. Could have been worse.”

      “Got that sickening call from the Athletic Trainer tonight…my son has a concussion.”

      Then comes this doozy out of Massachusetts: five 10-year-old boys received concussions in a single Pop Warner football game! After a hearing that resulted in suspensions for all the adults involved the game–coaches, refs, and even other parents–one of the coaches is quoted as saying, “My team is not dirty. All the issues were on their side of the field. This is a football game, not a Hallmark moment.” Oh, and did I mention that the banner on that team’s league website asks, “Are You Tough Enough?” Brilliant!

      I know that concussions are not just limited to football and can occur in all sports–and even outside of sports–but it certainly seems that they are happening with greater frequency than ever before. And when I read about bounty programs in youth football, I can’t contain myself. It’s clear that something more than “guidelines” are needed to protect our children’s brains.

      USA Football, the sport’s governing body in the United States, has put together a well-thought-out program called “Heads Up Football” to teach young players–and their parents and coaches–how to tackle correctly, thereby reducing the risk of concussion. The organization has also developed — in conjunction with leading healthcare and football experts — a four-step process to teaching the correct way to play tackle football, based on players’ ages and skills. What’s more, USA Football has followed the NFL’s lead in recommending limited to no physical contact in practices — as has the NCAA at the college level and the NHFS at the high school level.

      After reading that, many of you will probably think, “That’s great! Sounds like the problem is solved.” Unfortunately, that’s far from the truth. Why? Because youth football leagues — including the Pop Warner league mentioned above — can choose to follow these guidelines. Or they can choose not to follow them.

      While many coaches do put safety first, too many still do not, focusing on winning above everything. And although many states have passed concussion regulations based on Washington State’s Lystedt Law, that only governs what coaches and leagues do after a child suffers a concussion. Clearly, “When in doubt, sit them out” is a step in the right direction, I think more needs to be done to prevent concussions from occurring in the first place.

      I think it’s time to take the power of choice out of the equation and turn some of these safety guidelines into hard and fast rules that leagues — and coaches — must follow. Too many children’s brains are still at the mercy of others who don’t have their best interests at heart. It’s time to stop the concussion epidemic.

      What do YOU think should be done to stem this frightening tide? Do you think ‘safety training’ for coaches is enough or do youth sports leagues and parents need to go further to prevent concussions? I’d like to hear what you think!

      Emily Cohen is a freelance writer living in Berkeley, California. An avid tennis player and swimmer, Emily has a son who plays high school baseball and a daughter who plays Class I soccer and middle school volleyball. She has been a team manager for a number of her children’s sports teams. You can find Emily’s blog about team management and youth sports parenting here at tsblogadmin.wpengine.com. Follow her on Twitter at @emilygcohen or email her at emily@emily-writes.com

      Image source: flickr (JamieL.WilliamsPhoto)


      Download our app

      app-storegoogle-play

      Share this post


      Create Your Team Today!

      It’s Free and Free is Good!

      Sign Up Your Team!Free and Paid Plans Available
      Products
      Sports Organizations
      • Get a demo
      • Features
      • Pricing
      • Tournaments
      • FAQs
      Coaches or Team Managers
      • Features
      • Pricing
      • Tournaments
      • Get Started
      Parents or Athletes
      • Features
      • Pricing
      • Find My Team
      • Get Started
      Sports
      Sports Organizations
      • Baseball
      • Basketball
      • Football
      • Ice Hockey
      • Lacrosse
      • Soccer
      • Softball
      • Volleyball
      Teams
      • Baseball
      • Basketball
      • Football
      • Ice Hockey
      • Soccer
      • Softball
      • +100s more
      Resources
      • Blog
      • Coaches’ Corner
      • Return To Play
      • For Business Resource Library
      • Skills & Drills
      • Press Releases
      • TeamSnap Updates
      • TeamSnap Help Center
      • Community
      • Why TeamSnap?
      Company
      • About
      • CareersHiring!
      • For Brands
      • Partners
      • TeamSnap API
      • Responsible Disclosure Policy
      • Youth sports team and sports org app Apple App Store Logo
      • Youth sports team and sports org app Google Play Store Logo
      • social-media-facebook
      • social-media-twitter
      • social-pinterest
      • social-instagram
      • social-video-youtube
      • professional-network-linkedin
      • social-tiktok

      TeamSnap Footer Logo

      Copyright © 2005–2025 TeamSnap, Inc.

      • Sitemap
      • Terms
      • Privacy Policy
      • California Privacy Policy
      • Your Privacy Choices