Concussion Rules And Laws | BrainChampions.org

The End Of The Road Is Just Ahead

October 19, 2011 By Dirk Knudsen 4 Comments

There are few people reading this by now that do not know of the crisis facing this great game of ours. This game, this killer of men and breaker of spirits, which so many millions love and celebrate every week in America. Our youth are dying and our Heroes falling and yet do we say anything? Or do we just smirk and write it off to bad luck. It didn't happen to you right? Not your kid. Not your problem. But across America as the injuries mount and the death toll rises more and more fans and parents are crying out for change. Because for those of us paying attention we must realize that this killer that is running wild in the game of football has come to our youth fields and our Main Streets and our NFL Stadiums. The Concussion and Brain Trauma Monster is ours...all of ours. The body count and number of broken men and boys is rising daily. Concussion's and Traumatic Brain Injury suffered on and the practice field and during games seem to visit every region of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Concussion Rules and Laws, Education, Happening Now, Uncategorized Tagged With: brain champions, coma, concussion, Death, Drew Swank, football, grant taylor, high school, junior nuku, Lystedt, matthew newman, Medical, NFL, oregon, ridge barden, Second Impact Syndrome, washington

The End Of Football As We Know It Is Near

October 18, 2011 By Dirk Knudsen Leave a Comment

September 22, 2011 Dirk Knudsen WashingtonPreps.com Editor Talk about it in The Grid Iron The End Of The Game As We Know It I will never forget September 27th, 2009 because it was a day that changed my life. And it was a day that will be a part of a much bigger story. A story that will change the way we play the most beloved game in this great Country of ours. It was a day that we lost one of the great young men in America and it was our fault. All of our fault. That was the day that Valley Christian High School student-athlete Andrew "Drew" Swank who was #15 died having lost his life to Second Impact Syndrome; a direct result of him playing in a High School football game with a severe concussion he recieved a week prior and there is little deate over the fact that many of those involved knew he was hurt. But Drew was cleared to play and was hit again and again that Friday night. He took a fatal blow in the game and as his brain swelled … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Concussion Rules and Laws, Education, Uncategorized, Youth Football Tagged With: Barden, Bobby, Clark, concussion, Death, Drew, Helmet to helmet, Matthew, Newman, Ridge, Swank, TBI

Brain Champions Team 7:15 Makes Big Impact

August 4, 2011 By Dirk Knudsen Leave a Comment

ALOHA, Ore. - About 150 high school football players looking to make that next big step to college ball took to the field during a Friday night football camp, but they were also reminded about the danger of concussions from a man who barely survived permanent brain damage. Max Conradt spoke to the players about what could happen if concussions aren't taken seriously. His story is a reality check for players who think they're invincible, but the reality is students die from concussions. School districts around Oregon and Washington are taking steps to take the injury more seriously, but Conradt says high school players need to do the same. Some of those high school players at the camp were 14 years old while others were a few years older. Many have dreams of college scholarships, national championships and even the NFL. While watching them practice, Conradt remembers his time as a football player. "I was MVP quarterback and defensive end," he says. Ten years ago he was … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Concussion Rules and Laws, Education, Meet Our Founders, Second Impact Syndrome, Youth Football Tagged With: 7:15, brain, champions, concussion, conradt, Death, dirk, football, knudsen, konner, Matthew, max, Newman, Second Impact Syndrome, TBI, team

New York Concussion Law Not Even a Good Start

June 17, 2011 By Dirk Knudsen Leave a Comment

A new law in New York is up for a final consideration by Governor Andrew Cuomo. Under the bill, students who got concussions would be removed immediately from athletic activities. They would not be able to return until they were without symptoms for at least 24 hours and received authorization from a physician. 24 hours? Really? When all the best research is now indicating weeks if not months of rest is required. And this Bill does not protect the hundreds of thousands of Youth Athletes who participate in Youth and Club sports every day. There is also no provisions for what type of medical professional can clear an injured athlete. Michael Kaplen who is one of the preminent Brain Injury Lawyers in the country said he doesn't think the legislation goes far enough. Kaplen, chairman of the state Traumatic Brain Injury Services Coordinating Council and past president of the Brain Injury Association, said the physician who gives clearance for an athlete to return to play … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Concussion Rules and Laws Tagged With: brain, concussion, Death, education, Impact, law, Legislation, Medical, Newy, TBI, traumatic brain injury, York

Illinois Gets Ready to Add Concussion Law Before 2011 Season

June 2, 2011 By Dirk Knudsen Leave a Comment

The State of Illinois is close to enacting their version of a Concussion Education and Prevention Bill. The only thing needed to polish off House Bill 200 is the signature of Governor Patt Quinn. The bill, if passed, "would make it mandatory for all school boards in the state to work with the Illinois High School Association to develop clear guidelines to educate coaches, student athletes and their parents." These measures include, but aren't limited to, forcing all school boards to enact and enforce policy regarding concussions; including information about concussions and policies about them in any form or waiver pertaining to youth athletics which requires a parent or guardian's signature; and making educational materials about concussions available to all school districts. With the support of the Chicago Bears the State is taking a step in the right direction. Hopefully this gets done the right way for youth athletes in the State. A little more on the story is … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Concussion Rules and Laws Tagged With: 200, Bill, brain, concussion, football, House, Illinois, injuries, laws, Reform

Alaska Passes Concussion Law: Great Work Up North

May 29, 2011 By Dirk Knudsen Leave a Comment

Alaska Passes Senate Bill 15 and Protects Injured Athletes from returning too soon

This week our friends up North in Alaska passed a Bill for protection of their athletes who compete in High School. It was not the most comprehensive law but a good start. We realize that sweeping changes often come slowly. While we would prefer a law like Washington State's that protects youth athletes who compete outside of a school setting this is a start. FAIRBANKS — Gov. Sean Parnell signed a bill Friday to protect student-athletes from serious brain injuries resulting from multiple concussions. House Bill 15, sponsored by Rep. Mike Doogan (D-Anchorage), requires that a student with a suspected concussion be removed from play or practice and not return until cleared by a qualified medical professional. “This was a difficult sessions in a lot of ways,” Doogan said in a press release, “but we did manage to do some good work, and this bill is part of that. It will help keep kids healthy and safe. Other issues got a lot of attention, but I can’t think of too … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Concussion Rules and Laws Tagged With: 15, Alaska, athletes, Bill, concussion, football, high, laws, Medical, professional, return to play, safety, school, Senate

Legal Cases Mount; Is It Too Late For Football?

May 21, 2011 By Dirk Knudsen Leave a Comment

We have warned, begged, and pleaded. But too many athletic directors, school board supervisors, and Coaches have refused to meet. The State of football is one of denial and of hoping that the message is not delivered. That message is that we are in big trouble and that kids are being hurt and being killed. A message that we have to fix the game and fast! And we can fix it but the Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury crisis is just starting. The statistics are mounting and showing that we are progressing at light speed to a catastrophic state. Concussion are up 420% in the past decade according to a study released last week. And the age of bigger faster stronger is here. But the human brain is not up to the challenge. Because few people are listening litigation is starting to mount and loom large. The reason schools and coaches have to worry is that we now know without doubt that concussions are far more dangerous then previously thought. The Standards of Care are … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Concussion Rules and Laws, Legal Cases Tagged With: 2011, Alt, brain, Brainchampions.org, coaches, concussion, deaths, football, high, injuries, lawsuit, litigation, school, school districts, traumatic

Increases in High School & Youth Concussion Documented in Study

May 9, 2011 By Dirk Knudsen Leave a Comment

G- Forces Exerted By A Football Player Are Far Beyond What is Needed to Cause a Concussion

Concussions among high school athletes in boys and girls sports have increased over the past decade, according to a study published in The American Journal of Sports Medicine. Data from a study which looked at a sample of 25 High Schools and 12 boys and girls sports from 1997-1998 and 2007-2008 show the concussion rate increasing 4.2-fold over the 11-year period with a 15.5 percent annual increase. Out of the 25 High schools and the sports sampled there were 2,651 concussions observed. The boys' sports represented 53 percent of the athlete-exposures and 75 percent of all concussions. Football players were among more than half of all concussions, and girls' soccer reported the most concussions among girls' sports. Among boys' and girls' basketball, soccer and baseball/softball, girls were nearly twice as likely to have a concussion as boys. The concussion rate also increased over time among all sports recorded. This confirms something that has recently been discussed. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Concussion Rules and Laws, Concussions: Girls Sports, Research and Studies, Technology, Youth Football Tagged With: 400%, american journal of sports medicine, brain, brain champions, concussions, Death, in, INcrease, injureis, injury, new study, sports, youth

Colorado Getting Primed To Implement Concussion Bill

May 3, 2011 By Dirk Knudsen Leave a Comment

Jake Snakenberg Concussion Prevention Law Passed in Colorado

It was Colorado's turn to pass a law recently protecting our kids and they did just that. In fact they have one of the more progressive and wide sweeping laws in the country and it covers middle school through High School athletes participating in school and club sports and athletics. Here is a synopsis of the most recent update on the "Jake Snakenberg Concussion Law". This is a really great Law and will help steer more and more coaches and kids along the path of prevention rather then the path of injury and harm. Way to go Colorado! ------------------------------------------------- Concussions: State senate bill tries to help youth athletes, coaches May 01, 2011 11:20 AM Read more: http://www.gazette.com/articles/concussions-117295-bill-help.html#ixzz1LKcZOKFN Sen. Nancy Spence of Centennial understands the tangible impact of Senate Bill 40. Having annual concussion recognition education for youth coaches will help them recognize symptoms, and requiring athletes to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Concussion Rules and Laws, Youth Football Tagged With: 2011, brain injury, colorado'concussion law, concussion, football, girls and boys, jake snakenberg, senate bill 40, soccer, youth football

Manning A Part Of The Problem: BrainChamps Calls Him Out

April 28, 2011 By Dirk Knudsen 4 Comments

Kort Breckenridge After his Life saving Craniectomy

Today's revelations by NFL Star QB Payton Manning indicate he knowingly lowballs the NFL concussion baseline test. He was smug and almost bragging in his statement. And he is too ignorant to know any better. Manning has been raised by a Football legend who often seemed to always put the Football Glory of his sons first over anything. Said Payton Manning: "They have these new (brain) tests we have to take. Before the season, you have to look at 20 pictures and turn the paper over and then try to draw those 20 pictures. And they do it with words, too. Twenty words, you flip it over, and try to write those 20 words. "Then, after a concussion, you take the same test and if you do worse than you did on the first test, you can't play. So I just try to do badly on the first test." (The Huddle)http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2011/04/peyton-manning-admits-to-tanking-nfls-baseline-concussion-test/1 That is the worst thing he could say. And he … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Concussion Rules and Laws, NFL Stuff, Second Impact Syndrome Tagged With: Baseline, brain champions, concussion, Kort Breckenridge, Law Suit, NFL, Payton Manning, Second Impact Syndrome, Testing