The NFL has rleleased a poster for locker rooms of youth athletics programs. It can be found here:
http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/sports/nfl_poster.html?s_cid=tw_inj11. The poster reflects the same information that was hung in every NFL locker room to bring attention to all of their athletes the issue of TBIs. (As if a poster in each locker room really does much more than all of the information and attention that was paid to it this past season in the media.) While I applaud the NFL for their efforts, I think it still comes up very short of what is needed. I realize the problems with requiring players to speak at functions to help address the issue, but I think that this will be the best way to tackle the issue (yes, the pun is very much intended.) I believe that part of the contracts of each player should be to speak to this and other medical issues like steroid abuse to youth gatherings would have a much greater impact on the youth than any poster could ever hope to achieve.
Also, the
Sports Legacy Institute has posted seven steps to increase the safety and decrease the risk of TBI in athletics. These steps have bee nthe hallmark of what we as a staff have been trying to accomplish, but we never took the time to write these steps down and state them clearly.
As a staff, we quickly worked to address the education to our high school/middle school parents, coaches, and athletes. Most of what we have presented has been quickly accepted by all the parties involved and we have had little arguements about the standards. Fortunately, our employer is also anxious for us to reach out even further into the various youth leagues that provide programming for our younger populations. It is very exciting to be able to reach everyone in a community and spread the word quicker.
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