Sarah Stokes

February 5, 2017
G/T Independent Research

Annotated Source List

Alic, Steve. "Participation for Tackle and Flag Football Increases in 2015." USA Football, 21
Mar. 2016, usafootball.com/blogs/americas-game/post/11740/participation-for-tackle-
and-flag-football-increases-in-2015. Accessed 5 Jan. 2017.

This article is about the increase in tackle and flag football participation from 2014 to
2015. Although there has been an overall decrease in the participation in youth football over the
past few years there was an increase from 2014 to 2015. This is most likely due to the increased
safety measures in place to protect players from injuries. One of the programs that is put in place
to protect and help players from concussions is the Heads-Up program. The Heads-Up program
teaches coaches and player safer techniques to play the game, help to fit equipment properly to
protect from injury, and educates them on medical procedures in case of an emergency. This
program is medically certified by many accredited association including the National Athletic
Trainers Association. Also, coaches are becoming more educated on the topic of concussions.
They are beginning to teach tackling techniques that help to prevent injuries.
This increase of safety measures helps ease parents minds about the dangerousness of
football therefore allowing their children to participate. This helps with research about
participation in youth football because this is a different perspective on the issue of the decreased
participation. Previous sources have shown a decrease in participation over the past few years
but none including this past year. The most recent data is the best to use when conducting
research.

Associated Press. "With an eye toward curbing concussions, the New York City Council is
considering legislation that would require a doctor to be present at all youth tackle
football games, as well as many practices, to monitor players for possible concussions."
New York City Council, 23 Jan. 2016, New York, New York. Address.

With concussions becoming so prevalent in football today, New York City is trying the
take action to prevent head injuries in the sport that is the number one leader of head injuries in
high school. The proposed idea is to have a doctor at all games and some practices. This would
help the athlete to be treated right away after acquiring a concussion. This could possibly
decrease the severity of the concussions in high school football. Having a doctor present at all
football events will help to ensure that the players and coaches are practicing safe behavior that
will prevent concussions. Lastly, having a doctor present will overall make the sport safer and
decrease the number of head injuries.
This document is helpful because it provides an example of the many ways governments
are getting involved to make football a safer sport. This is helpful to research about youth
football participation because with this regulation that is put in place along with others, the sport
will become safer. As safety in football increases the participation may too because parents wont
be as concerned that their child will get a concussion if the sport is safer.

Brzycki, Matt. "Youth Concussions." American Fitness, vol. 34. MasterFILE Premier,
web.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=5&sid=7f71fa29-d961-4a2b-ae5f-
a940d1e34073%40sessionmgr2. Accessed 15 Dec. 2016. Excerpt originally published in
American Fitness, Fall 2016, pp. 56-58.

This article outlines the specifics of youth concussions which are prevalent in many youth
sports, the most common being football. The article also covers the basics of concussions. That
includes how a concussion is acquired, the symptoms of a concussion, and prevention. The
prevention of concussions is very important, especially in youth. They have developing brains,
so a concussion can be very harmful. A key to prevention is neck strength. It is discovered that a
child with a weaker neck is more likely to acquire a head injury. Lastly the article details the
recovery strategies for concussions. After a patient has stopped showing common signs of a
concussions, they need to be eased back into participation in order to prevent second impact
syndrome. This can cause even more brain damage.

This document is helpful because it is specifically about youth concussions and shows the
difference between a concussion in a child and an adult. This document is helpful in research
about youth participation in football. It helps to show why parents are concerned about their
child participating in football. They are worried that a concussion could permanently damage a
childs brain so they restrict their child from playing.

CNN. "NFL Concussions Fast Facts." CNN, 1 Aug. 2016, www.cnn.com/2013/08/30/us/nfl-

concussions-fast-facts/. Accessed 15 Feb. 2017.

This source is a compilation of concussions statistics in the NFL. It helps to provide

insight into head injuries in the National Football League. The document also discusses what a
concussion is and has links to other helpful sources when researching concussions.

Daneshvar, Daniel H., MA, et al. Helmets and Mouth Guards: The Role of Personal Equipment
in Preventing SportRelated Concussions. 2011. Concussion Legacy Foundation,
www.bu.edu/cte/files/2011/07/Daneshvar-et-al.-Helmets-and-Mouth-Guards.-2011.pdf.
Accessed 24 Oct. 2016.

This research report discusses how new equipment can prevent concussions. Safety
equipment suggestions for every contact sport is included. One major topic discussed in the
report is the effectiveness of helmets in football. Beginning at a leather cap in the early days of
football, the design of a helmet has evolved to an intricately engineered piece of equipment.
Helmets for football are specifically designed to prevent concussions from the hard impacts
players receive. There are 3 common designs of helmets each with different elements to keep a
person safe but few studies have been done to find if one helmet design is more effective at
preventing concussions than any other design.
This report is useful in ones research about Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy because
it delivers a way to prevent or reduce concussions in athletes. With less concussions, an athlete is
less likely to acquire the condition. Helpful information is provided in the report about the
specific materials used in football helmets which is helpful to determine the best type of
protection for a football player.

De Lench, Brooke. "Concussions: Parents Are Critical Participants in Recognition, Treatment,

Recovery." Moms Team, 30 Apr. 2016, www.momsteam.com/health-safety/parents-
critical-participants-in-recognition-treatment-recovery-concussion?page=0%2C1.
Accessed 23 Dec. 2016.

This document is a description and check list of the responsibilities of parents when their
child acquires a concussion. There are important pointers and things to remember when dealing
with a child with a concussion. One important thing to remember when a child shows symptoms
of a concussion, seek medical attention right away. Also, the child should not drink alcohol, use
drugs, or drive with a concussion for their safety and the safety of other. Other tips to remember
are that a return to sports need to be gradual, the child cant be thrown back out into the field.
Lastly, the child is the parents responsibility. So, if the parent see any symptoms of a concussion
or suspects their child may have a concussion they have to do something about it. An untreated
concussion can cause permanent brain damage.
This document is helpful to research on youth concussions. If a parent is educated on
concussions and the player is educated on concussions the amount of concussion could decrease,
making football safer. If football becomes safer, participation may stop decreasing. Also, if
parents are knowledgeable about concussions they will be more willing to let their child play
football because the parents will know how to prevent the concussions.

Farrey, Tom. "Preps at greater concussion risk." ESPN, 31 Oct. 2013,

www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/9902116/report-details-concussion-risks-high-school-
athletes. Accessed 4 Jan. 2017.

This article describes the recent research conducted by the NFL and their findings. The
NFL conducted research on concussion in high school and college level football. The research
showed that concussions occur at higher rates in high school football then they do in college
football. This occurs because in high school football there are boys of all body maturities
because some go through puberty before others so there are many different body types and
maturities making concussions more likely. Concussion are also more common in high school
football then college because high school students live with a parent who looks after their
wellbeing every day and will report a concussion. While in college, there isnt anyone looking
out for the player every day so concussions are less likely to be reported. The article also
includes information about the commissioner of the NFL, Rodger Goodell. He held an event to
talk with mothers of adolescent football players about the prevention of concussions.
This document is helpful to research about youth football participation because gives
reasons mothers are not allowing their child to play football. There is a very high chance of
acquiring a concussion in football, which deters mothers from allowing their children to play
football. The article also states that there is a lack of data on concussions in football leagues
below the high school levels. To further research the topic of youth concussions, one can
research why there is a lack of data.

Get a Heads Up on Concussion in Sports Policies Information for Parents, Coaches, and School
& Sports Professionals. CDC,
www.cdc.gov/headsup/pdfs/policy/headsuponconcussioninsportspolicies-a.pdf. Accessed
14 Nov. 2016.

This report describes the steps needed to prevent concussions in the youth. To decrease
concussions 47 out of the 50 states have passed legislation about youth sports rules. Smaller
organizations, including sports leagues and schools, create policies that are in place to prevent
concussions. Also, this report provides steps to prevent concussions outside of the game. One
step that is a necessary step to concussion prevention is education. Concussions cannot be
stopped properly without proper knowledge. So, it is important that parents, players, coaches,
and officials understand concussions. Proper rules, equipment, and procedures are necessary for
all players safety.
This article is useful because it provides additional subjects to research. For example, one
could research specific state laws on concussion protocols and if the number of laws in place in a
specific state increases or decreases the youths participation in contact sports. There has been an
overall decrease in the participation in contact sports in the country because of the knowledge of
concussions and this article help to prove that there are orders in place to prevent head injuries in
sports.

Gibeaut, John. "Thrown for a Loss: Retired players sue, claim NFL hid brain damage info."
American Bar Association, vol. 97, no. 11, Nov. 2011, pp. 16-17,
www.jstor.org/stable/23034146?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents. Accessed 28 Oct. 2016.

This journal describes a lawsuit by a deceased former NFL players representatives

against the NFL for hiding details about head injuries from the players. The plaintiff claims that
player, who died from dementia, had many injuries to the head that went untreated and
information that the NFL had about the relationship between multiple injuries to the head and
permanent brain damage. This was just one of the 75 similar law suits filed against the NFL
concerning head injuries. Even though the plaintiff ended up being awarded a large sum of
money, the NFL defended themselves by saying they were doing research on the permanent
damage of concussions for almost twenty years but nothing was proved until 2010. Researcher
discovered a strong correlation between multiple head traumas and brain damage such as
dementia.
This journal is useful in research about brain injuries in the NFL because the journal
discusses a personal account of the effects multiple head injuries have on an individual. The
player who was documented played may years ago, much before the advancements in traumatic
brain injuries research were made. This account is still useful to ones research because it can be
compared to a recent players account to discover the advantages for the recent concussion
protocol.
Goodell, Rodger. "Distance Penalties." OFFICIAL PLAYING RULES OF THE NATIONAL
FOOTBALL LEAGUE, National Football League, 2015. NFL, National Football League,
operations.nfl.com/media/1807/2015_nfl_rule_book_final.pdf. Accessed 18 Nov. 2016.

The Distance Penalties section from the official rulebook of the NFL is a chart which
describes the punishments that are enforced after a penalty. There are different levels of
penalties. Some of the levels are five yard penalties, ten yard penalties, 15 yard penalties, and
disqualification from the game. The five yard penalties are minor punishments for minor rule
breaking including a false start or illegal substitution. The penalties that receive this punishment
dont harm or endanger other players. Ten yard penalties are more sever punishments for actions
that may affect another teams movement of the ball including pass interference, but could
possibly cause minor injury, for example, illegal use of hands. Fifteen yard penalties are for
actions that could cause significant harm and injury to players. Some of the acts that can cause a
fifteen yard penalty are leading a tackle with the crown of the helmet, hitting out of bounds,
unsportsman-like conduct by players or coaches, or unnecessary roughness. Disqualification
from a game is the most significant penalty for a player to receive. The most common reason for
this penalty is targeting which is leading a tackle with the head.
This document contributes to research about head injuries in the NFL because it describes
the rules in place to protect players from injuries. The most significant penalties are given when
a player is put in danger. From this document one could research how recent the penalties about
head injuries were put in place and what more could be done to protect players from head
injuries.

---. "Player Conduct." 2015 OFFICIAL PLAYING RULES OF THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL
LEAGUE, National Football League, 2015. NFL, National Football League,
operations.nfl.com/media/1807/2015_nfl_rule_book_final.pdf. Accessed 17 Nov. 2016.

This document is the National Football Leagues rule book. The section called Player
Conduct describes the specific rules in place to prevent injuries. It is illegal to block any player
in the shoulder, hand, and head. A player is also not allowed to initiate contact with another
player using the crown of the helmet. Hitting any player while they are in a defenseless position,
which is a position a player is in where they are unable to properly defend themselves, is illegal.
These rules and many others about blocking and hitting are strictly enforce during the games due
to the league-wide concern with injuries. All rules are put in place to protect and ensure the
safety of the players.
This document is helpful because is describes the rules in place to prevent injuries in the
NFL. If followed correctly the risk of injuries, especially head injuries, are low. This document
can be used to further ones research on concussions because it raises the question of why the
specific rules were established. One could research specific incidents or complaints causing rule
changes.

Langhorst, Paul. "Youth Sports Participation Statistics and Trends." Engage Sports, 8 Mar. 2106,
www.engagesports.com/blog/post/1488/youth-sports-participation-statistics-and-trends.
Accessed 26 Feb. 2017.
 This document gives statistics on youth football participation. This is a useful source in a
project about the decline of participation in youth football because the document gives specific
statistics about the number of children participating in youth football and how that number has
changed over time. This document also provides additional sources to further investigate the
decline in youth football participation.

Lazarus, Arthur. NFL Concussions and Common Sense. Jan. 2011. Physicians Executive 37.
MasterFILE Premier, web.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail/detail?sid=8783cf09-1250-43d3-
bfaf-
9e173fa97310%40sessionmgr107&vid=6&hid=129&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2Z
Q%3d%3d#AN=57457669&db=f5h. Accessed 19 Dec. 2016.

This report is about the concussion protocol in the NFL. Just five years ago, the
procedures for concussions were completely different. There were still strict steps to take, but
they werent followed as religiously are they are today. The example used in the report is two
players for the Philadelphia Eagles who got concussions in the same game in 2011. Both went
back in the game after their injuries. Many mistakes were made in their treatment. The issues in
their treatment is presented in this document to inform physicians and athletic trainers on what
not to do. One of the major issues with injuries in the NFL is the pressure by the fans, coaches,
and even the player to put them back in the game. Doctors needs to be concerned with the
players safety and wellbeing before anything else. Other factors in the misdiagnosis of the two
players were the lack of communication and awareness. There was so little communication that
the doctors didnt even know one of the players got injured.
The misdiagnosis of a concussion is extremely important to a players safety because it
can cause permanent brain damage. One of the two Eagles players now has symptoms reflecting
CTE. This document is helpful to research about concussions in the NFL because it shows how
much the concussion protocol has changed in just the past five years. The changes help to keep
the players safer and prevent permanent brain damage.

League of Denial:The NFLs Concussion Crisis. Produced by Micheal Kirk, Jim Gilmore, and
Mike Wiser, directed by Micheal Kirk, screenplay by Mike Wiser, Steve Fainaru, and
Mark Fainaru-Wada, narrated by Will Lyman, WGBH, 2013.

This documentary is about the issues of concussions in the NFL. Many years ago, people
had no idea what a concussion was. People didnt believe that a hard hit to the head could cause
permanent damage. But one forensic pathologist named Bennet Omalu changed that belief. He
discovered, while autopsying Pittsburg Steeler star Mike Webster, that many hard hits to the head
can cause permanent brain damage. This discovery was not taken well by the NFL, they tried to
cover up the discovery to protect themselves from the scandal the new information would cause
Many more cases, similar to websters, were seen by Omalu. After a certain point, the NFL could
no longer hide the fact that the sport could permanently damage a players brain. They were
basically forced to admit that there was a correlation between concussions and all of the recent
deaths of former players.
The documentary is a very helpful source because it provides many facts about
concussions and the NFL. But the argument show in the video is very one sided because no one
to represent the NFLs side of the argument is show in the film. More research can be done to
discover why the NFL needed to cover up the discovery.

Mayo Clinic Staff. "Chronic Traumatic Encephalopath." Mayo Clinic, 20 Apr. 2016,
www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-traumatic-
encephalopathy/basics/definition/con-20113581?p=1. Accessed 28 Sept. 2016.

This article is a general overview of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a

degenerative brain condition cause by multiple untreated head injuries. There is no treatment or
cure for this very rare condition and can only be diagnosed post-mortem. CTE is most commonly
found in people who play high impact sports like football. The symptoms of CTE are
uncommonly found in non-genetic disorder including alcohol abuse and suicidal thoughts. Some
other symptoms of CTE are aggressive behavior, memory loss, and mood changes.
From reading this article, many questions to further ones research are found. One can
look into what exactly cause this condition and how it progresses. One can also research how this
disorder effects an athlete. This article also is helpful in acquiring information on this newly
discovered disorder.

McKee, Ann C., MD, et al. "Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in Athletes: Progressive
Tauopathy following Repetitive Head Injury." NIH Public Access. Boston University,
doi:10.1097/NEN.0b013e3181a9d503. Accessed 18 Oct. 2016.

This journal discusses Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy found in athletes. CTE is most
commonly found in football player and in boxers. CTE is also seen in other athletes including
wrestlers and soccer player. Investigations of many different case of CTE are shown. One case
shows a man who played in the NFL. He had over eight concussions during his professional
career alone (does not include concussions from peewee, high school, or college football) but
only one was ever medically diagnosed. Towards the end of his life he showed severe symptoms
of CTE and was diagnosed with the condition post-mortem. The neurological reasoning behind
CTE is also presented.
This journal is helpful because it gives specific, personal cases of CTE. It shows how
CTE effects people differently. One can research why peoples cases of CTE differ and what
trigger the brain degeneration to advance an investigation about CTE.

Mueller, Frederick O., Ph.D., and Robert C. Cantu, M.D. Annual Survey of Catastrophic
Football Injuries 1977 - 2011. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hil,
www.unc.edu/depts/nccsi/FBCATReport2011.pdf. Accessed 28 Sept. 2016.

This document presents research conducted of head injuries in high school football,
some college and professional football statistics are included but the research mostly focuses on
high school football. Data is presented as journal entries depicting how the injury occurred, the
type of injury, and the recovery of the injury. Data is also presented as statistics. For example
this study shows that there are far more head injuries associated with offensive players than
defensive player. The study gives many solutions on how to prevent such injuries in football
such as rule changes, different coaching approaches, and the preparedness of coaches for major
injuries.
The data from this research was collected from 1977-2011, so the changes to safety
equipment, change of concussion protocols, and the overall growth of knowledge about head
injuries is all encompassed in that time frame. To further one's research, a person can look into
why there are more head injuries to offensive players than defensive players.

National Strength & Conditioning Association. "Understand Rehabilitation to Facilitate a Return

to Competition." Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning, vol. 3, 2016,
www.humankinetics.com/exerpts/excerpts/understand-rehabilitation-to-facilitate-a-
return-to-competition. Accessed 7 Sept. 2016.

This journal excerpt includes information about the healing process of sports injuries.
The process has 3 phases: the inflammation phase, the repair phase, and the remodel phase.
Treating each phase of the process correctly is critical to the injury to insure a speedy recovery.
In the inflammation phase the tissue of the injury site is repairing, so there can be no use of the
injured area to prevent further damage. During the repair phase there needs to be a balance
between rehab and rest so the area is not reinjured but some exercise is necessary to heal the
injury properly. Lastly, the remolding phase's main purpose is to get the injury site back to
normal function and get the athlete back out on the field.
This journal is a useful resource in learning about the healing process of a sports injury.
This source is helpful to further research about sports injuries because it gives an incite into how
physical therapist design treatment plans and developed specific exercises for each individual
patient.

NFL. 2015 Injury Data. 29 Jan. 2016. NFL,

static.nfl.com/static/content/public/photo/2016/01/29/0ap3000000629781.pdf. Accessed
17 Feb. 2017.

This document provides statistics on concussions in the National Football League. There
are specific statistics included which help to provide more information to investigate hoe
concussions in the NFL effect the participation in youth football. Some of the specific statistics
include the conditions in which the player received the concussions and what position the player
played.

Owens, Karen. "Orthopedic Sports Injuries in Children and Young Adults." Fire Engineering.
EBSCOhost, web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail/detail. Excerpt originally published in
Fire Engineering, Mar. 2016, pp. 46-48. Accessed 19 Sept. 2016.
 This article addresses the first responder aspect of sports medicine. The responsibilities
of a first responder to a sports injury includes identifying the type of injury and addressing the
situation of the injury. There are two types of sports related injuries: acute and chronic. An acute
injury is a trauma that occurs unexpectedly during the sport including sprains, breaks, and
concussions. Whereas a chronic injury develops over a long period of time from overusing the
affected area. As a first responder, the person also has the job of assessing the situation using the
six P's: pain, pallor, paresthesia, pulse, paralysis, and pressure. This assessment helps determine
the type of injury as well as determine if blood flow to the effected area is inhibited. This
assessment is a very important part of the patient's recovery because the initial assessment can
help to determine the steps's of their treatment.
This article is useful because it shows a different side of sports medicine not usually
discussed: the first responder's responsibilities. Every section of the article cannot be used for
sports medicine study because there is some information only pertains to Emergency Medical
Technicians (EMT). The article as a hole is helpful to answer questions about the often
overlooked part of sports medicine.

Scutti, Susan. "NFL Announces $100 Million Concussion Initiative." CNN, 12 Sept. 2016,
www.cnn.com/2016/09/14/health/nfl-concussion-safety-initiative/. Accessed 25 Sept.
2016.

This news article addresses concussions in the National Football League (NFL). It is
organized by sections with one of them being the long-term effects of an untreated head injury.
Research shows that there is a relationship between untreated head injuries and suicide. Some
players who played before the discovery of the severity of head injuries and acquired a
concussion that went untreated developed chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE occurs
when the brain becomes so damaged from the brain trauma it begins to deteriorate, which is what
causes the suicides. The NFL combating the concussion epidemic by diagnosis and treatment.
The NFL gave $100 million dollars to the sports medicine departments of the league and
research groups to help keep the game safe. One of the many things the NFL has done to stop the
concussion issue is to add a concussion protocol. This is an extensive process athletes must go
through if they are thought to have a head injury.
This article presents helpful information because it shows how the NFL is combating the
large number of head injuries in sports, especially football. The wide range of information about
concussions is helpful to one's research because there are useful terms and concepts not found in
many articles. This article is relevant because there is a current protest by many people against
the NFL because so many people receive head injuries, but this article shows the steps taken to
keep the players safe and healthy while still playing the game as it always has been played.

Seifert, Kevin. "What is the NFL's 2016 concussion protocol?" ESPN, 9 Sept. 2016,
www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/213596/faq-detailing-the-nfls-concussion-
protocol. Accessed 21 Oct. 2016.

This article from ESPN gives a detailed explanation of how the National Football league
combats concussions. Over the past years, the protocol followed when a player is suspected to
have a concussion has become much stricter. At least 29 people from a teams medical staff are
present at every game. This include team doctors, athletic trainers, neurological consultants and
spotters. The job of the spotters is to watch live and replays to look for any signs of a concussion
in the players. There are many signs, some include slowly getting up and a player holding their
head. If any of those signs are observed, the player is taken off to the side and given a test. If the
test shows that the player is in any way effected they are taken to be further tested in the locker
room.
This article is helpful because it presents what the NFL is currently doing to prevent
neurological damage from untreated concussions. The protocol is strictly administered
throughout the league. To better understand the topic, one can research how the concussion
protocol has changed throughout the years and how the number of permanent neurological
injuries have changed.

Sports Injury Clinic. "Rehabilitation and Exercises." Sports Injury Clinic, 2016,
www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/rehabilitation-exercises. Accessed 7 Sept. 2016.

This article is a general overview of injury rehabilitation. This overview presents a

timeline of injury recovery, exercises that will help to strengthen the injury sight, and prevention
of future injuries. There are 3 stages of rehab: Early stage, Mid-stage, and Late, the goals of each
stage of rehab are also identified. Each of those stages of recovery require different treatment
approaches because the injury site is in different conditions at each of the stages. Exercises that
help the injured site improve flexibility, balance, and function. One of the key injury prevention
strategies is to make sure muscles are flexible, done through stretching. Some other prevention
strategies are to keep muscles strong and have good cardiovascular strength.
This article is helpful because it provided new terms for the stages of rehab. To further
one's research the specifics of each recovery stage would need to be researched in greater depth.
The general overview of injury recovery summarized in the article gives a base of information
for research on sports medicine.

Steiger, Bill. "Meet Bennet Omalu, MD: The Physician Leader Whose Research Inspired The
Movie Concussion." Physician Leaders Journal. MasterFILE Premier,
www.physicianleaders.org/docs/default-source/web-documents/meet-bennet-omalu-
md.pdf. Accessed 9 Dec. 2016. Originally published in Physician Leaders, vol. 3, no. 2,
Mar.-Apr. 2016, pp. 8-10.

This document is a biography about Dr. Bennet Omalus discovery of the brain condition,
CTE. His discovery forever changed the world of football. Dr. Omalu first discovered the
disorder when he was preforming on autopsy on Mike Webster, a famous NFL player. He spent
hours looking at Mikes brain to try and figure out what was wrong with him. His discovery of
the condition was highly scrutinized by the NFL at first, but now there are many doctors
associated with the NFL researching and studying CTE. CTE is not only a problem in the NFL it
can be seen all over the professional contact sports industry including hockey and boxing. Omalu
knows that the sport of football will continued to be played even with the discovery of CTE. But
Dr. Omalu believes Americans should learn from the deaths of the players from CTE and not
continue to subject people to such a dangerous activity for entertainment.
This document is helpful because it gives on professional opinion on how the game of
football can impact a persons health. This document can be used in research about youth
football because Omalu strongly suggests that children should not play football for their safety.
Concussions can forever damage a childs brain, so parents shouldnt take the chance for
permanent brain damage by having their child participate in football.

The Towson Sports Medicine Team. "Getting Ahead of Concussions." Maryland's Health
Matters, May 2015, pp. 6-7, www.towsonsportsmedicine.com/wp-content/uploads/5-
2016_UMSJ_Health_Matters.pdf. Accessed 7 Sept. 2016.

This magazine article addresses the common sports related injury of concussions.
Concussions are classified as a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). They are caused by an strong hit to
the head, so concussions are very common in impact sports, especially football. In fact,
concussions are so common in sports that the second leading cause of concussions to people ages
15-24 is sports related. To help stop the commonness of concussions in youth sports the Towson
Sports Medicine Team researched how to heal and prevent concussions. The team is encouraging
every athlete to take an ImPACT or XLNT test before beginning a sport so there is a baseline for
brain function. If an athlete does unfortunately receive a concussion, they can retake their
baseline test so the doctors can compare the results. With the results from the ImPact or XLNT
test and multiple other tests conducted, a very personalized treatment plan is formulated so the
athlete back out on the field as soon as possible.
This article is helpful because it discusses a quicker rehabilitation path so the athlete back
into sports speedily. The article included credible sources to help further one's research. This
article includes good examples of new methods for a quicker overall process of recovery,
including diagnosis and treatment, so the athlete is back to playing sports quickly.

Underwood, Julie. "Schools should heed concerns over sports' brain injuries: as states make new
laws on sports-related head injuries, districts and schools must adapt and operate new
protocols." Phi Delta Kappan, vol. 97, no. 6, 2016, p. 74. Student Resources in Context,
ic.galegroup.com/ic/suic/AcademicJournalsDetailsPage/AcademicJournalsDetailsWindo
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Accessed 30 Nov. 2016.

This document describes many of the symptoms of concussions. These include physical effects
including headaches, emotional effects such as irritability, cognitive effects like memory loss,
and general brain functions including loss of sleep. Also present in this document, is the
governments involvement with concussions. Many state governments have taken action to
protect athletes from concussions, such as Washington state. They were the first state to pass
legislation that effected youth sports. The law requires all athlete suspected of a head injury to
undergo a proper examination before returning to sports. Lastly the document includes lawsuits
by involving high school athletes that acquired a concussion but went untreated. Both were due
to neglect by the coach to address the injury and inadequate procedures set in place by the
district to treat concussions.
This document is helpful because it addresses many issues associated with concussions,
laws put in place to prevent concussions and what happens if those laws arent properly
followed. The lawsuits are useful to research about the decline in youth sports participation
because they can be used to show coached what not to do. This could possibly prevent some
concussions and help to increase the number of kids involved in contact sports.