Athletes and concussions have been a hot topic for quite a few years now. There are multiple court cases out there that involve the NCAA and concussions. According to the Associated Press, “the NCCA is dealing with more than 300 lawsuits from former college football players who claim their concussions were mistreated, leading to medical problems spanning from headaches to depression, and in some cases, early onset Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease.” After playing field hockey my freshman year, I have received a letter in the mail from the NCAA saying how they themselves were being sued for how they handled college athletes and the concussions they got from playing their sport. It honestly baffled me, and I thought it was ironic. NCAA athletes and concussions are still a rising and concerning issue in the sports world today.

This is a very frustrating and concerning issue because the human brain is a vital organ in the human body. The more it gets damaged, the more it does not work properly. If a concussion is not taken seriously, some complications can occur. These complications include post-traumatic headaches, post-traumatic vertigo, post-concussion syndrome, and second impact syndrome. If someone who has a concussion does not treat it right away, unpleasant long-term consequences. These consequences include headaches and fatigue that could sometimes go on for years. They are not as sharp as they used to be mentally, and they can’t focus. Not only this is not good on a normal person, it is especially not good if that person is an athlete. An excellent movie that highlights this is the movie, “Concussion.” If you have not watched it yet, I highly recommend it. Football players who have went from the NCAA to NFL that are now retired are suffering from long-term brain injuries. These athletes that are suing the NCCA are seeking compensation for their injuries.

The best solution to this problem is to educate coaches, players, and athletic trainers on concussions and their severity. When I played field hockey at IUP and also being a Sport Administration major, I had to watch many videos on concussions and go to meetings with athletic trainers about concussions. Maybe if coaches, players, and athletic trainers are more educated on concussions and their severity, there would be less court cases with the NCAA and former college athletes.

What do you guys think about educating players, coaches, and athletes more on concussions? Sound off in the comments below! Don’t forget to share this post and blog to your friends and family!