Young Football Players And Brain Injuries

• July 19, 2024
• Attorney David Mann
• Personal Injury

The physical demands of a young athlete are immense, especially for those who play team sports like lacrosse and football where blows to the head from collisions and falls are part of the game. Before their brains even get a chance to fully develop, young players have to learn how to avoid and how to handle debilitating injuries. Brain injuries can result from years’ worth of small jolts to the head or from one major impact.

In this blog post, we will discuss young football players and brain injuries as well as some ways to decrease the risk of brain injuries in young football players.

Young Football Players and Their Parents Need To Be Aware of the Risks

The growing awareness that concussions can have serious long-term effects has led the NCAA Football Rules Committee to adopt harsher penalties for targeting on the field. Additionally, every school is required to have a concussion-management plan, though many football players choose to stay quiet about concussion-like symptoms so they can continue in the game. High-tech helmets and other impact-monitoring systems have been developed in an effort to measure and prevent head trauma. Players who experience such injuries might seek counsel from a personal injury attorney to understand their rights and potential remedies.

Once someone suffers a concussion, he or she is at a greater risk for suffering another one, and some traumatic brain injuries can be career ending. Take Rico Johnson, 20-year old freshman cornerback for the Bulldogs. Doctors discovered that he had a neurological brain disorder of unknown origins, but the assumption is that repeated head trauma is to blame. His football career was in its infancy, and while doctors believe he’ll be able to live a “normal life,” he likely won’t play again because the next time he takes a hit to the head could be his last. It’s situations like these where consulting with a brain injury lawyer becomes essential.

Signs and Symptoms of Brain Injuries

Some of the signs that a young football player might have a brain injury are:

• Being dazed, confused, or disoriented
• Unconsciousness
• Inability to remember the events that occurred immediately before the injury or the injury itself
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Speaking incoherently
• Changes in eating or sleep patterns
• Loss of balance
• Vomiting
• Blurred vision.

Ways to Decrease Risk of Brain Injury in Young Football Players

While there is no foolproof way of avoiding brain injuries, there are some pointers young football players and their families can take to avoid the risks:

• Awareness and Education – Knowledge is power.  If we understand how brain injuries can occur in young football players, we can then take the steps to avoid risk.  Having a concussion management plan and presentations to the football teams about brain injuries will go a long way.
• Proper Tackling – As we have seen in the NFL, certain types of tackles can reduce the risk of brain injuries in football players.  Coaches should make sure they teach proper tackling techniques to their other coaches and football players.
• Helmets Should be Properly Fitted – Helmets should fit around the player’s head the proper way and coaches and parents should make sure that their player’s helmets are on safely and correctly.
• Strengthen the Neck – Studies have shown that football players with stronger necks are at less risk of getting brain injuries while playing football.  Coaches should stress neck exercises to strengthen the players’ necks.

If you have a sports-related TBI case, find out more by discussing it with one of the attorneys at The Mann Law Firm. We are ready to provide you with a free and confidential initial consultation. Contact us by calling (478) 742-3381 in Macon, Dublin, Warner Robbins or Milledgeville, or through our online form.