Seven Safety Tips to Prevent Concussions in Youth Sports

When kids participate in youth sports, they learn the value of teamwork, develop leadership skills, and get some good old fashioned exercise. Unfortunately, many of the most popular youth sports are full-contact or involve scenarios that result in injury ranging from broken bones to a traumatic brain injuries. For boys, it’s no surprise that football leads the way, as kids are crashing into each other at full speed. Even sports like basketball and soccer, which are commonly thought of as safer, have the potential for severe injuries when heads hit the floor or players collide leaping for a header. Although girls sustain roughly ⅓ the number of TBIs as boys, the risk of injury is still present in soccer, basketball, gymnastics, and other popular sports.

There’s no way to eliminate traumatic brain injuries entirely, but with the right rules, precautions, and awareness, they can be minimized and mitigated. Here are the top seven tips to prevent brain injury in youth sports:

Because tackling occurs on almost every play of a football game, it is imperative that players are taught the safe way to perform a legal tackle. A safer tackle starts with the mantra “head up, eyes up, chin up.” This methodology allows the player to keep his eyes on the opposition at all times and cuts down on helmet to helmet contact, which is the primary source of spine injury and concussion in football.

Bike helmets should sit flat on top of the head and should not rock side to side. Sizing pads are often included with helmets to ensure that they fit snuggly and sit one or two finger-widths above the eyebrow. All straps should be tight enough to secure the helmet to the rider’s skull in the event of a fall.
If riding on public roads, the following rules of the road should be observed at all times: ride with the flow of traffic, obey traffic lights and signs as if you were driving a car, use hand signals when necessary, and always look both ways before entering a street.

The concept that mouthguards prevent concussions is as old as it is inaccurate. Mouthguards were originally invented in 1890 to prevent lip lacerations in boxers. Evidence that they prevent or mitigate head and neck injuries comes from anecdotal evidence sourced from a small sample of non-randomized cases. The two cases that are commonly cited in support of mouthguards come from the monitoring of a season of football at Notre Dame University and the other from a study performed on cadavers. The problem with these studies is that the first was limited in sample size and the second was not performed on living humans.

30% of brain injuries in soccer come from attempted headers. When players are running full speed and jump to hit the ball with their head, there is the potential for skulls to collide or heads to get kicked. If players keep their eyes on the ball while in flight, talk to teammates while the ball is in air, use their forehead to strike the ball, keep eyes open until contact, and push through the ball on contact, they can reduce the risk of injury.

Baseball is considered one of the safest sports, but injuries that are sustained can be especially severe. When an errant pitch hits a batter’s skull at speeds above 60 mph, it’s important to have adequate head protection like the Rawlings S100 Pro Comp. There is no such thing as a concussion proof helmet, but the proper head gear can reduce chances of a traumatic brain injury. Baseball coaches should also teach their players safer sliding techniques. Head first slides are more effective than pop-up slides because the momentum of the runner’s body is carried while sliding. Players under 13 years of age should not be allowed to perform head first slides and older players should be taught to keep their heads up and use their palms to lead the motion.

Although gymnastics is not a contact sport, there is the potential for severe neck and brain injury when an athlete falls from a balance beam or does not stick a landing from uneven bars. To help prevent concussions there should always be trained spotters in both practice and competition. Coaches should also instruct their athletes on proper safety roll technique. This allows gymnasts to absorb the impact of a fall and protect the head and neck region. As a final precaution, all matting and equipment should be inspected regularly.

Horseback riding is a uniquely dangerous sport by virtue of it involving a large, powerful animal that can be unpredictable at times. Riders should always wear an equestrian helmet that is SEI certified and meets ASTM standards. Certified helmets are required for competitive riding events, as they protect against the head striking a hard object or being struck by a horse’s hoof. Horseback riders should also undertake activities with their horses that are appropriate for their skill level and age. They should also be aware of what spooks their horse and avoid those scenarios.

Because concussions can never be fully eliminated from sports, it is important for coaches and referees to be able to diagnose them when they occur. The most common signs of a concussion are mild confusion, disorientation, and irritability. If there’s any doubt as to whether a concussion has happened, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and have the athlete sit the remainder of the game out.

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