Football Coaches Keeping Quiet about Head Injuries

University of Hawaii Warriors did well in their football season opener against USC. Although they lost 49 to 36, they certainly held their own. Unfortunately, UH starting quarterback Bryant Moniz suffered a hard hit on the helmet in the third quarter. This seemed very serious to me and I was certainly concerned about whether Moniz would be medically cleared to fly to the East Coast to play their next game against Army. All that I heard on the news was that Moniz sustained a “possible head injury” or an “apparent head injury”. No one was saying that he had a concussion, because to do so might have meant benching Moniz even if it turned out that he did not. Apparently, medical clearance in such instances can take a week or more and this can certainly impact an athlete’s season.

If you watch the news as I do, it seems that the most common news story on sports injuries these days concerns brain injuries. In light of the seriousness of such injuries, last spring, the NCAA ruled that member schools must develop written policies on the subject. Athletes at Big Ten schools are even required to receive education about concussions and then sign a waiver (now required by NCAA) agreeing that they will be honest and open in reporting their symptoms regarding head injuries. Apparently, there has been some attempt by athletes to cover up such symptoms and this has made it more difficult for physicians to diagnose and treat concussions.

Certainly, the threat of head injuries in football and other sports is real. Use of helmets and training of proper techniques in tackling are the usual steps that have been taken to decrease such injuries. Some parents and players have decided the risk is too high to participate in football programs. However, many parents and players have decided that the benefits of team work, physical fitness and scholarship potential far outweigh the risks.