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SPORTS INSIGHT: Concussions the talk of football
Daniel Elizondo, Sports Editor - Wednesday, July 21, 2010

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The football season is drawing closer and in less than two weeks, high school football teams can officially hit the practice fields and begin two-a-day workouts on August 2.

It pretty much goes hand in hand with the rising temperatures as of late.

But while athletic trainers and coaches prep to keep athletes safe under extreme heat conditions, the real source of concern this season are concussions.

The rise of concussions in high school football has drawn enough concern and is the topic of discussion during the Texas High School Coaches Association convention being held in San Antonio.

There is a fine line when it comes to concussions, which with too many, can lead to serious conditions later in life.

Coaches deal with heat issues and know the proper techniques and protocols to keep athletes hydrated and safe. But concussions cause a different concern.

Not that there aren’t concerns with heat stroke, which also has long lasting effects, concussions can be mild and act as a “stinger”, so to speak.

The question for doctors, trainers and coaches is – how long should athletes be held out of team practices and games if they should suffer a concussion?

That question is being studied extensively this week at coaching school.

No definite answers will come about, but coaches and trainers alike will be more aware of any conditions directly caused by concussions.

In 2007, Jose Robles from Hondo suffered a serious concussion that ended his athletic career as a junior.

Since, Robles has a made a full recovery and was lucky. For some, there isn’t a second chance.
The sport of football has become faster and stronger through the years and head injuries are not uncommon.

The primary goal for the coaches and officials is to make certain that these young athletes are safe.

With proper coaching techniques and stricter rules on the field by the Texas Association of Sports Officials, a student athlete’s safety is the most important aspect of the game.
Awareness is the key to this growing concern.