Informative Essay On Concussions

According to CNN, concussions in the NFL have increased to a high of 967 in the past four years (CNN.com). Today kids in high school or younger will take a big hit to the head and may suffer from a concussion. The problem is when that kid or coach does nothing about it and puts the player's life in jeopardy. But is there a way to prevent this? A large part is using the equipment that you have correctly. Concussions are a risk people take in sports, but there are ways that coaches prevent them and keep players safe.

1. What is a concussion

Many kids and adults suffer from concussions, but what is a concussion? A concussion is when a person takes a very large hit to the head or multiple hits to the head. After being hit in the head it makes

the brain bounce off the side of your skull. Players like Chris Borland, a former 49ers linebacker, says that football is a dangerous game as he made a very early retirement after only playing in the NFL for one year (Barnett). A study showed that there is a large connection between football and concussions.
2. How to help kids not have concussions
According to Frank Beasley, an executive director of the FHSAA, making football safe and keeping players safe is extremely important.

A way to do this is by keeping contact down to 30 minutes a day. When watching a youth practice Chris Borland says that there are better ways to practice with the kids instead of head on head contact. Another way to keep kids safe is by changing the way they practice. According to Terry O'Neill, a former NFL executive and founder of Practice Like Pros, by changing to working with air or bags in the summer and using only helmets for the first 2 days, so kids can learn how to properly tackle and not harm themselves or other

players.
3. Keeping players healthy
People are always working to make football more innocuous and better for young players. Jon Butler, Pop warner's executive director, says that by getting rid of kickoffs will be able to keep the kids even safer as most concussions happen during kickoff and punt returns (Fox). The institute of medicine has said that by having a way to collect data on concussions over the country. Young kids should be the main focus, so they do not face head trauma and other mental disabilities over their lives. According to Jason Kosow, chief executive of the New England Baseball Complex, showing kids the fundamentals of football will adjust them to when they are older and advance on to tackle football. Jason also states that kids are becoming bigger, faster, and stronger which causes a concern for the children's safety (Fox). To prevent kids from being harmed programs set a weight limit on curtain positions.
4. Preventing concussions
According to Stabler, an NFL hall of famer, head trauma and the long-term health problems are caused by poor protection from helmets and multiple blows to the head (DeBruin).

The ways of tackling and the rules of what you could do and couldn't have changed significantly. Paul Hornung, a running back for Green Bay Packers, took multiple hits to the head and was diagnosed with neurodegenerative disease (Tarm). Hornung wants to sue Riddle because he says the helmets failed to protect him. Helmets have significantly became better than what they were ten years ago According to Roger Goodell, the NFL commissioner, says that the NFL will advance help-seeking activities with mental health problems; grow transition programs that will advance their life to new stages

(Lynn).
5. Conclusion
Coaches and many NFL commissioners are always looking for ways to reduce the amount of head trauma in the sport of football. Coaches understanding what a concussion is and the effects it has on its players will help payers from not having as many concussions. Youth programs changing the game to suit younger kids and getting ride of high danger situations will prevent the number from growing. And finally, the NFL and little leags informing the players of the danger of head trauma and the risks they take in playing the sport will help them decide if they will want to risk playing.