Page 208 - SpringBoard_ELA_Grade6_Flipbook

aCTIvITy 3.4
continued
12 But are there risks associated with playing at such a young age?
13 Certainly, the football world is hyper-aware of head injuries. Chronic Traumatic
Encephalopathy, a condition brought on by repeated blows to the head, has been linked to the suicide deaths of three former NFL players in the past 18 months: ex-Bears safety Dave Duerson in February 2011, ex-Falcons safety Ray Easterling in April, and ex-Chargers linebacker Junior Seau on May 2.
14 That culture of hyper-awareness, Hefner said, has led to significant changes at Lincoln-Way Central, including the presence of an athletic trainer at every practice, coaches lecturing players on concussion signs, and baseline testing at the beginning of each season for every player. Hefner said those baseline tests are used later to determine if a player has suffered a concussion.
15 “I think 15, 20 years ago, no one wanted to say anything,” Hefner said. “We’ve been fortunate. We did have a few players have concussions last year, but everyone recovers differently.
16 “We have a better understanding of how serious they are.”
17 Dr. Eric Lee, of Oak Orthopedics in Frankfort, agreed with Hefner that every
child is different, and that perhaps limiting contact in practice is the way to go to avoid more concussions.
18 “It’s a very controversial topic and some will say that if they don’t let their child play football, then they won’t let them ride a skateboard or ride a bike,” said Lee, who is a volunteer physician for Lincoln-Way North, Olivet Nazarene, and the U.S. Soccer Youth National teams. “And at the freshman level, you have some kids who haven’t reached their physical maturity going up against those who have.”
19 Dr. Robert Cantu, co-director of Boston University’s Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy, studied Duerson’s brain at his brain bank and wrote
a book, “Concussions and Our Kids,” due out Sept. 15. One chapter advocates children not playing football until high school. Cantu fully supports Levy’s opinion.
20 “We also feel that children shouldn’t play (full-contact) hockey until high school and heading should be taken out of soccer,” Cantu said. “Kids have poorer equipment than varsity athletes and there is less medical supervision—if any—and coaches are not well-schooled in concussion issues.”
21 Lee said he sees more high school players in the south suburbs suffering head injuries during practice because of the competitive nature of football in this part of the Chicago area. Lee said a lot of players are going all out during practices to win that coveted starting spot.
22 Thus, Lee said, he believes taking a lot of hits out of practice is one step toward reducing head trauma.
23 “The happy medium is what Pop Warner did, with limiting the practice of contact,” Lee said. “By doing that, you remove a ton of exposure to head injuries.”
24 Indeed, Dr. Julian Bailes, the chairman of Pop Warner’s Medical Advisory board and co-director of the NorthShore Neurological Institute, said his organization’s recommendations can cut concussions by two-thirds.
25 “We can reduce 60 to 70 percent of head impact because that’s what occurs at practices,” Bailes told the Sun-Times in July. “This is a first step to make it safer.”
26 At least one coach may take a step in another direction—perhaps not, for now, with his players, but with his 6-year-old son.
my Notes
Unit 3 • Changing Perspectives 181
covet: want very much
© 2017 College Board. All rights reserved.