Concussions are becoming increasingly important in sports – The Wayne Stater

Concussions are once again at the forefront of the sports world, and even more so in the NFL, after Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was diagnosed with the third concussion of his career.

In a 31-10 loss to AFC East rival Buffalo, Tagavailoa came into contact with Bills safety Damar Hamlin, with the quarterback's head making the first contact. Tagovailoa then went down in a fencing position. According to ESPN, a “fencing position” is a term for the way someone places their arms in an unnatural and awkward position. If you look at one of the numerous excerpts from the piece, you can see Tagovailoa's right arm strangely extended while his hand curls. After much speculation and rumor in the media, and after former NFL players expressed their opinions on the matter, Tagovailoa has said nothing publicly about his retirement. The Dolphins have placed him on injured reserve effective immediately.

As a former player and current head coach of Wayne State football, Logan Masters and his staff have preventive measures in place to prevent concussions. During training, players wear protective caps and practice specific blocking and tackling techniques to limit contact with the head. Guardian caps are a protective layer placed over a player's helmet, providing the player with more cushioning during contact. After players began wearing them in practice, the NFL recently gave players the option to wear keeper caps in games. Tennessee Titans tight end Josh Whyle wore one in the season opener against Chicago.

Aside from taking preventative measures in practice, Masters and his staff also have a concussion protocol in place for players they suspect or know have a concussion. Any player who has suffered a concussion must be cleared by a doctor before they can play.

As for the Tagovailoa situation, Masters didn't have to deal with anything like that at WSC.

“I think it's a family decision and thinking about that person's future,” Masters said. “Different families and individuals believe in different things, and what makes everyone happy varies.”

Studies show that concussions have increased in recent years. The NFL said there was an 18% increase in concussions between the 2021-22 season and the 22-23 season, with 149 concussions in 271 games. The increase is also being seen outside of professional football, with North Kansas City Hospital noting an increase in concussions among school-age children between 2015 and 2017 compared to previous years.

According to the CDC, tackles account for approximately 63% of concussions in high school football in the United States.

“Youth soccer starts at such a young age,” Masters said. “It is difficult to teach college athletes proper technique, and now we are asking volunteers to teach 9- and 10-year-olds how to use proper technique to keep them and the other players safe. Additionally, their bodies are not sufficiently developed to have full control of the body and keep them out of vulnerable positions, increasing the risk of a concussion. Players who suffer a concussion at a young age are now more vulnerable to a second concussion.”

Athletes in many sports will continue to try to stay healthy as more research is conducted on concussions and concussion prevention.