Background: To reduce the number of sports-related concussions, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with the support of partners and experts in the field, has developed a tool kit for high school coaches with practical, easy-to-use concussion-related information. This study explores the success of the tool kit in changing…

Participation in school sports can benefit children but also carries a risk of injury, including concussion. Concussion is a brain injury that can affect memory, speech, and muscle coordination and can cause permanent disability or death. Concussion can be especially serious for children, who are more likely than adults both to sustain a…

The effectiveness of knee braces in preventing knee injuries in football is inconclusive. This article reviews research from epidemiologic, cadaver, and surrogate studies; discusses reasons for conflicting study results, including research design problems; and describes alternative approaches that have been suggested. (IAH)

In response to a new state rule, the Wisconsin Minimum Weight Project curtails weight cutting among high school wrestlers. The project uses skinfold testing to determine a minimum competitive weight and nutrition education to help the wrestler diet safety. It serves as a model for other states and other sports. (Author/SM)

Reports a study that examined the incidence of spearing between two high school football seasons, one before and one after a rule change banning spearing. Reviews of 18 game films of a New Jersey team from 1975 and 1990 indicated that, overall, the rule change did not have a favorable impact on the incidence of spearing. (SM)

This conference was convened to develop guidelines for programs to monitor the rates and costs of youth sports injuries. Following the Preface (L. E. Shulman), Introduction (D. G. Murray), and Summary (D. G. Murray), "Subjects for Further Research or Implementation" are listed. The 19 papers presented at the conference were: (1)…

Cites statistics on death and injury from high school sports. Offers advice to coaches and athletic directors about safety consciousness, how to assess sports safety programs, and the advantages of employing certified athletic trainers. (MLF)

Gives information about opportunities, job tasks, and educational requirements of sports-related jobs in high school, college, and professional athletics: coaches, sports medicine specialists, managers, public relations specialists, and trainers. (SK)

Coaches, regardless of their level, should be certified in basic first aid, CPR, and the use of automated external defibrillators. They need to be trained regarding liability and those laws that apply to the field of coaching. There is a certification known as "First Responder," whereby the trainee earns a level of expertise just below that of a…

High school coaches and athletic trainers should know proper first aid techniques, have special knowledge about particular sports injuries, have a good understanding of safety precautions for playing equipment and skill techniques, and understand environmental factors that may affect athletes. (JD)

Describes the incidence of catastrophic head injuries within high school and college sports. Data from a national surveillance system indicated that a football-related fatality occurred every year except one from 1945-99, mainly related to head injuries. From 1984-99, 69 football head-related injuries resulted in permanent disability. Deaths and…

This article discusses the rationale for athletic trainer education and describes a degree option in physical education, exercise science and human performance, created at the University of Toledo. The human performance option includes a track which allows a concentration in athletic training. (IAH)

Identifies professional responsibilities, educational requirements, and current use of certified athletic trainers in prevention and care of high school sports injuries, using literature from the MEDLINE and Health STAR databases. Whereas most high school sports injuries are minor, adequately trained personnel should be present to ensure early…

Data from the National Center for Sports Injury show that changes in rules and equipment have made interscholastic sports safer in recent decades, but the record for 1982-1997 shows that there is still room for improvement. The paper presents sport-specific considerations and examines several general safety recommendations that should be followed.…

This article discusses the dramatic injury incidence in high school athletics, the lack of medical support for these injuries, and coaches' lack of knowledge and preparation regarding these injuries. It then considers implications of this situation for the coaching profession and for physical education programs that prepare coaches. (IAH)