What Youth Sports Administrators Have in Common with Paterno, Spanier, Curley & McQuery

Do you realize how much YOU have in common with Joe Paterno, Graham Spanier, Tim Curley and Mike McQuery?  No, these men did not commit the physical crimes against children, as did Jerry Sandusky.  However, they are responsible and liable for their own actions when there is even a hint that someone is abusing a child.  This blog isn’t specifically about the Penn State case and who was (or wasn’t) fired, that will all pan out in court, but it is a REALITY check for all involved with youth that no one is invincible.

While the Penn State case is making national headlines because of its legendary coach and it’s football program, understand that this happens FREQUENTLY in youth sports.  Most of our readers are involved in teams/leagues/youth programs in one-way or the other. Are you a coach, athletic director, team mom or a parent on the side-lines?  Whatever your position, today is the day to step back and realize where exactly you fit into the lives of the kids participating in your youth sports organization.   You are there to protect them at all cost.

Some time ago, we did a blog on Protect Your Kids From Predators In Youth Sports.  This blog is a must read for anyone that has or is involved with children. It includes an article from Sports Illustrated from actual predators in youth programs saying “This is how we got away with it …this is how you protect your kids.” (Example from the article, Did you know, Studies have found that the average preferential molester victimizes about 120 children before he is caught? DISTURBING). It also contains useful Risk Management guidelines that can be implemented TODAY!

For more articles on preventing sexual abuse and molestation, visit our blog.

Shart this with others so that we all can make a difference.

Football: Concussion Risk Dangers Of Too Early Return

“The research team, headed by Dr. Barry Maron of the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, analyzed information from the U.S. National Registry of Sudden Death in Young Athletes.”

“Football accounted for 57 percent of trauma-related sports deaths among young athletes, many of which could have been avoided if athletes with head injuries had been kept on the sidelines, according to researchers who sifted through 30 years of data.”

“Twelve percent of the 138 football deaths caused by head or neck injuries involved athletes who returned to the game after a concussion.  In some of these ‘second-impact syndrome’ deaths athletes were cleared for play despite symptoms from a previous head injury.”

“The study found that running back was the single most deadly position in football with 33 deaths in 30 years while 69 deaths occurred among defensive players.”

Source: Football Is Deadliest Sport For Young Athletes, Study Finds, Sporting Kid, Fall 2011, National Alliance For Youth Sports

Chartis Starts Educational Program On Sports Concussions

Chartis insurance has launched a new website to enhance public awareness on how to identify the warning signs of sports concussions and the proper response. Their website includes a number of good educational materials for coaches / athletic directors, parents / teachers, and athletes. The materials include fact sheet, clipboard sheet, tip sheet on baseline testing, tip sheet on signs and symptoms, concussion Q&A, etc.

According to Sadler Sports Insurance’s injury statistics, concussions account for about 5% of all reported injuries under youth tackle football Accident insurance. Due to the potentially catastrophic nature of concussions, this topic deserves long overdue attention.

Chartis is one of many Accident insurance carriers that Sadler Sports Insurance represents and makes available to it’s clients.

Information Link

PA School District Sued By Ex-Football Player Over Concussions

A Pennsylvania school district is being sued by a former student who received three concussions in games during the 2007 football season. Zachary Alt, 19, has to deal with symptoms, including memory problems and nausea, stemming from brain injuries after being told by the coaching staff to continue in games without being properly diagnosed. He was never removed from the games, but after the last concussion, he was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury at a hospital.

Source: Insurance Journal, April 4, 2011.

Cumulative Concussions And California Workers’ Compensation

Under California’s liberal Workers’ Compensation code, NFL players from any franchise can file claims for cumulative trauma injury even if they merely played a single game or practiced in the state. Workers’ Compensation attorneys representing players from the 1960′s to present are forum shopping these claims to the tune of $150,000 to $200,000 per claim. Since 2008, 1600 claims have been filed in California at a cost of $375 million. The projected cost is expected to exceed $1 billion.

These cumulative trauma concussion claims will cost NFL teams big time on their Workers’ Compensation premiums thanks to California. Other states don’t cover cumulative trauma claims under their Workers’ Compensation codes.

Source: Risk & Insurance, Nov. 2010

New State Laws On Sports Concussions Protect And Increase Liability

“A Washington State law that mandates strict procedures for handling youth athletes’ concussions has served as a template for similar policies. It has helped shape laws in several other states….”

“Modern guidelines state that athletes of all ages and in all sports, after sustaining a concussion, should not return to play until they display no symptoms (like dizziness, headaches, nausea or sensitivity to light or sound) both before and after gradually increasing physical exertion. It is less known that students feeling symptoms should be advised not to tax their cognitive function by playing video games or even studying too hard.”

“Another player’s mother, who asked the Sequim School District to begin a baseline neuropsychological testing program — which can assist in evaluating when a player has recovered and can return to play — was told that such testing, “due to liability and legal issues, is not recommended either by the insurance provider” or the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association.”

“If you purchase the program, you better be using it consistently and properly, because if you don’t, that opens up liability,” Linville said. “If you don’t own it at all, then you do not have that liability, and you are not responsible.”

The national media has recently covered high profile lawsuits involving serious injuries and deaths resulting from players returning to action too soon after a concussion and suffering a second, serious or fatal injury. In addition, studies on NFL athletes have highlighted concerns over the long term effects of repeated concussions.

A number of groups have recently lobbied congress and state legislatures for the passage of concussion protection laws such as the one referenced in the article. Many experts are trying to set new standards for more advanced concussion care, which includes a pre season neuropsychological cognitive test to establish a baseline for comparison after a concussion. It is believed that comparing the post injury test to the pre injury baseline is the best way to determine appropriate return to play protocol.

However, such testing can cost up to $10.00 per athlete and requires administrative scheduling and expense. In addition, once a sports organization adopts any safety standard, failure to fully implement can result in liability. 

The testing normally involves hiring a firm to bring in computer equipment with specialized software to a pre determined location to administer testing for all program athletes that can take up to 30 minutes per athlete. 

The debate and discussion on the topic of sports concussions and return to play protocol will result in better educated medical professionals, coaches, trainers, and parents. 

I recommend that you read the New York Times article in its entirety.

Source: The New York Times