Concussions: Youth football begins prevention work

DALLAS — Youth football leagues are responding to warnings about the dangers of hard hits by offering new videos, coaching exams and other lessons about preventing and recognizing concussions — even though organizers believe their level of the sport is as safe as football gets.

There are an estimated 3 million kids ages 6 to 14 playing tackle football in the United States and longtime league administrators say the majority of players aren't big enough and don't hit hard enough to cause serious damage.

"It's really surprising how few (concussions) we've had," said Carolyn Stewart, a coach, board member or commissioner for nearly 20 years in the Dallas-area Spring Valley Athletic Association's football leagues. "I know of more from skateboards or falling off playground equipment."

Still, at a time when the pros down to high school teams are adopting new rules about concussions, and Congress is holding hearings about the risk of permanent brain damage from poorly treated head injuries, youth football organizers realize it only makes sense to play it safe. Nobody wants to be the one who ignored the warnings.

USA Football, the sport's national governing body on the youth and amateur levels, has created a 12-minute video about concussions and made it part of a coaching certification exam. The organization also is pushing the catchphrase "when in doubt, keep them out," and has just hit TV, radio and the Internet with a campaign called "Put pride aside for player safety," which aims to erase the notion of someone merely having his bell rung, so he should shake it off and get back in there.

USA Football's reach is limited, however. It's a budding group, hoping its work on head injuries will help it gain authority — as opposed to the NFL, NCAA and National Federation of State High School Associations, which already have the power to implement changes.

Ten states have passed laws requiring a doctor's approval for youth athletes suspected of having a concussion to return to play, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has urged governors of the other states to join them. Last week, Congress heard testimony on the Protecting Student Athletes from Concussions Act, which would set standards for concussion safety and management in schools.

"You've got to be tough to play football, but no one has a tough brain," said Dr. Stanley A. Herring, a member of USA Football's wellness committee who has testified many times before state and federal lawmakers.