This article provides more evidence of the growing concern over possible head injuries in contact sports and the need to put protocols in place to deal with head trauma injuries. Like with Global Warming, the scientists have led the way and the various sports organizations and the public are getting the message.
The Sac-Joaquin Section, which governs the athletics programs of nearly 200 high schools in the Central Valley, has partnered with a Sacramento-based group to help spread awareness, testing and treatment of head trauma injuries.
MindGame, formerly the Sacramento Valley Concussion Care Consortium, already is working with 16 schools in the Sacramento area and hopes it reaches every high school statewide.
"Our goal from the beginning has been to cover every student-athlete in the state through not just baseline testing, but education for athletes, coaches, parents and school staff," said MindGame's co-founder, Dr. Catherine Broomand.
MindGame provides education, baseline and follow-up testing, and has identified medical facilities with staff trained to treat brain injuries. The baseline test costs $20 per student, according to Broomand.
"One of our goals is to reduce barriers to kids that are uninsured or under-insured and get them the care they need from health care providers with that type of expertise," she said.
Section schools are not obligated to use the service, but section commissioner Pete Saco believes the partnership only can help student-athletes.
"We simply cannot afford to let this issue linger," Saco said in a statement. "There is too much on the line, and our parents and student-athletes are counting on us."
Football still has the highest instance of head trauma, followed by girls and boys soccer, with lacrosse and rugby injuries increasing as more schools offer those sports.
According to a 2011 study by Purdue's Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, of 1 million young men who play football each year nationally, "approximately 67,000 are clinically-diagnosed with a concussion, and it's estimated that a similar number of concussed players remain undiagnosed."
Some area high schools already have head trauma protocols in place. Stagg football coach Don Norton said a certified athletic trainer is present at all of the Delta Kings' practices and games. The trainer is paid with funds from Stagg's athletic department and football program. When necessary, the trainer conducts tests the player must pass before he is allowed back on the field. Norton believes the school districts should take more responsibility in this area.
"The school districts should be out front paying for certified trainers for all sports where there is possible head-to-head contact," he said. "To me, it's a no-brainer for school districts to step up and do that. Eventually, all the districts will pay for it when something tragic happens, but by then it will be too late."
This summer, two representatives from each high school in the section will be invited to an informational meeting with Mind Game and the section office.
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