New Law Aims to Protect Athletes from Concussions

June 23, 2014

Team sports are great exercise and teach young men and women camaraderie, sacrifice, and self-worth. However, in recent years, researchers have learned much about the hazards of concussions. In my days as a defensive tackle in high school and at UCONN, we were told to “tough it out.” While I learned some important life lessons backed up against the Husky goal line on chilly fall Saturdays, the consequences of concussions were not among them. Then, unaware of the long term effects of repeat head injuries, athletes played through concussions. With advances in medical science, parents and coaches are better equipped to protect children from the lifelong damage that these injuries can cause. Many of you may not be aware that concussions occur in all sports-not just football. In response to the new information, the legislature updated the concussion law. (Public Act 14-66)

As a father and grandfather, I applaud the new changes, especially the requirement that a school must notify a parent when a student is removed from play for a suspected concussion. Too often, student athletes do not mention the injury to their parents because they are afraid of having to sit out a game. Now parents will get the information they need to watch out for their children. Without this call from the school, a parent might not be as concerned if their child has a bad headache. By knowing that headache is a possible concussion, most parents will view it differently. That information may prevent a lifetime of damage.

Of course, the people that we need to educate most are the athletes themselves. This law does that. Often among young athletes there is a strong impulse to hide injuries to keep playing or look tough in front of teammates. Most athletes will act differently when told of the dangers of playing through a concussion. For this exact reason, parents, school administrators, and especially students have to be taught about the dangers of head injuries and the proper procedures to follow when one occurs. This is also why we now insist that on a concussion education plan for students and parents. And when a possible concussion does occur, a qualified professional must provide the injured player with the ‘all clear’ before they retake the field.

In addition, the State Board of Education will annually collect and report to the Department of Public Health the concussion occurrences in our public schools. This information will be helpful to the new 20 member task force that will study concussions in youth athletics and recommend any legislative changes for future years. The task force will review the current concussion policies used by athletic leagues in Connecticut, the current best practices for recognizing a concussion and prevention of one, and the training of athletic league employees and volunteers.

I am confident that by observing the provisions in this law, and looking out for concussions, we can ensure that young athletes continue to experience the fun and life-lessons sports have to offer.