Blog note: this editorial references two grand jury reports.
Marin schools’ heightened awareness about student athletes and concussions is heartening and common sense.
The health and safety of youngsters involved in prep sports must be the highest priority.
Professional sports have reached that conclusion, after a legacy in which players have suffered the long-term effects of concussions, sometimes undetected, sometimes dating back to their high school or college playing days — and all too often shrugged off under the pressure of getting back on the field, or the court.
We’ve learned that there can be grave consequences to an injury that might once have been discounted as “getting your bell rung.”
Growing awareness, on and off the playing field, has led many parents to steer their children away from playing football.
Participation in prep football continues to decline across the county, a trend that has been seen nationwide.
To better address safety concerns, across Marin schools have adopted and are conducting a strict and standardized concussion protocol for prep football players.
That protocol not only follows the national focus on concussions in sports, but also two Marin County Civil Grand Jury reports on local prep programs and the precautions they have taken or need to take in response to the serious problem.
The grand jury’s work has helped keep a public spotlight on this serious issue.
The Marin County Office of Education has taken a leadership role, starting Concussion Smart Marin, a program that is promoting awareness and collecting data on aspects of head injuries. Working with Marin medical professionals, the program has also created a standardized protocol for team physicians and nurses to follow before an athlete is allowed to return to action.
Growing awareness and scientific studies have linked concussions and repeated head traumas to a degenerative brain disease — chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The evidence has been clear enough to mandate action.
Local programs, from pre-teen programs to prep teams, are building on steps that have already been taken.
Terra Linda and San Rafael high school players wear headband sensors aimed at helping prevent concussions.
Teams are investing in equipping players with helmets that have topped safety tests and, perhaps most importantly, players are being trained to block and tackle without leading with their helmets and by avoiding blows to their heads.
Many of these measures would have been unheard of a decade ago.
The local program is the product of partnerships not only involving Marin County Athletic League schools, but Kaiser and Marin General hospitals and the Larkspur-based Schurig Brain Injury Recovery. The Marin Athletic Foundation also has been involved, helping with outreach.
That local focus began in 2010 and involved collecting data on head injuries and tracking players’ school work afterward.
The more data collected and the deeper it can go, the better-equipped scientists and coaches will be in promoting safer play.
Concussion Safe Marin is one such step and Marin is fortunate that local medical experts, coaches and educators have joined forces to promote the short- and long-term health of Marin’s student athletes.
August 29, 2018
Marin Independent Journal
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