You are here: Home / Youth Football

Extending The Mission We Turn To A Mobile Classroom

January 18, 2012 By 2 Comments
BrainChampions.org is Building an educational bus to take out on educational trips

At BrainChampions.org we don't spend a lot of time sitting around.  This year was a busy one where we spoke at several classrooms and and 6 Camps where the message was taken to hundreds of Coaches and kids. We started Atalanta's Pride with Tracy Yatsko even while the amazing young woman from Pennsylvania took on the lobbying of a Statewide Concussion reform bill.  And in Oregon Ally Wallace went after the Coaching community in Portland and gained National attention as she got mandatory imPACT Baseline Concussion testing pushed through. Our ability to help is only funded by our time and resources.  Up until now BrainChampions.org has been funded by our founder.  Now we ask for your assistance in completing our mobile classroom project that we call "Building The Bus".  This vehicle had a glorious career as a custom shuttle bus before being bought and used as a Indie Band Bus where it earned its nick-name Bus Van Sant. Now we need your help to get Bus Van Sant back on … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Education, Happening Now, Research and Studies, Youth Football Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The End Of Football As We Know It Is Near

October 18, 2011 By 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 debate 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: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Idaho Athlete Bobby Clark Lies In A Coma

October 6, 2011 By 2 Comments

We are so very saddened to bring you news of yet another injury.  This time it is Priest River High Schools Bobby Clark who is struggling to survive as I write this. This from swxrightnow.com in Idaho:   Bobby Clark, the football player from Priest River High School who was airlifted out of the stadium last Friday night, was still in critical condition as of Tuesday morning. Those close to the family said Clark was still in a medically-induced coma so doctors could reduce swelling around his brain. Also on Tuesday morning, a member of the school board in Priest River said they have serious reservations considering the news that more than a dozen players on the team have suffered concussions this year. That board member said they would consider moving to cancel the rest of the football season if the trend of concussions didn't improve on the team. Mike McGuire, superintendent of the West Bonner School District, said Monday the injuries are a combination of Priest … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Happening Now, Youth Football Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Brain Champions Team 7:15 Makes Big Impact

August 4, 2011 By 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: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Football’s Survivors Can Not Be Stopped

June 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

June 9, 2011 Dirk Knudsen WashingtonPreps.com Editor Dirk Knudsen; Washingtonpreps.com Randy Newman with his son Matthew Celebrate life at a Seahawks Game 1 1/2 years after Newman nearly lost his life                   This week two very special young men will graduate from their respective High Schools in Washington State.  Albeit both of them are late in doing so and not the same young men that they were when they started out.  Thye are much stronger then anyone could have ever dreamed.  It will be with a full heart that those paying attention will witness Zackery Lystedt and Matthew Newman cross the podium to receive their diploma tomorrow. For Lystedt he will graduate after 5 grueling years of dealing with the damage left in the wake of a severe brain injury he received as a youth football player in the Tahoma school district.  But he will make it and if all goes … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Education, Meet Our Founders, Second Impact Syndrome, Youth Football Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Helmet Study Sends Confusing and Inaccurate Message

May 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Football Helmets Are Not the Solution to the Concussion Epidemic

The sad thing about the media is that they report things without thinking through the consequences of their stories.  At least many outlets do.  A new study released last week is stirring debate about which helmet is safest for their kids to wear on the football field. Virginia Tech produced a ratings system of football helmets earlier this month based on their ability to reduce the risk of concussions. The study indicates that newer helmets are doing a better job of preventing concussions. The Riddell VSR4 -- which received one star -- was included to demonstrate the improvements in the new technology. So the debate rages and while it does our concern of course is that a parent or anyone might feel that buying a certain helmet might prevent their athlete from being hurt.  Worse yet outfitted with such a helmet the athlete often feels empowered and compelled to turn up the use of that same helmet while dishing out punishment. Let's be Clear. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Research and Studies, Technology, Uncategorized, Youth Football Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Increases in High School & Youth Concussion Documented in Study

May 9, 2011 By 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: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Colorado Getting Primed To Implement Concussion Bill

May 3, 2011 By 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: , , , , , , , , ,

School Districts Wake Up: The Legal Tsunami is Coming and Your on the Beach

April 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Founding Members of Team 7:15 Could All bring Litigation based on what happened to them. Most have not but that is not preventing them from doing so. For now they work for our Mission and to create change in a broken system

We have repeatedly talked about this and every time our organization approaches a school district we approach as a friend and a partner.  We come to help bringing news of prevention and education in the Concussion and traumatic brain injury arena.  We come to help them protect all of their athletes and their young people. Our goals are simple.  Our Mission clear.  We are here to help Prevent and Successfully Manage Traumatic Brain Injuries in youth sports. Simple stuff right?  And our Concussion Management Plan covers all of this. But schools are nto listening up.  They seem to think they have adequate standards and protections in place.  But they could not be more wrong.  We have yet to find one school that is hitting on all the things that by now insiders and medical professionals know to be the standards needed for today. Standards of Care.  We keep pointing to them.  Diligence and protections and best pratices.  Schools have to update them and get with … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Youth Football Tagged With: , , , , ,

Bull In The Ring and Drills Like It Are Killing Kids!

April 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment
"Bull in the ring" is a drill almost as old as football.

This is a shame and we have spoken about Standards of Care.  These drills got us into the mess we are in.  If your doing them stop.  That or be prepared to face the music.  read this story! "Bull in the ring" is a drill almost as old as football. Several members of the team form a ring around a single player. The player in the middle begins a nervous shuffle, eyes darting, arms tense, as his teammates, one at a time, fling their bodies toward him at full force. He is the target of tackle after tackle, and if he moves too slowly the hits can be punishing. For many coaches, "bull in the ring" is an exercise in agility and mental fortitude. Others consider it violent. Read the rest of this story righ here   … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Youth Football Tagged With: , , , ,
« Older Posts