After Tragic Injuries: How To Make Ice Hockey Safer

“Two tragic spine injuries in Minnesota high school hockey games in the last month have sparked debate among parents, officials, and fans over how the rough sport can be made safer.”

“The Minnesota State High School League acted quickly announcing tougher penalties for three types of infractions that increase the risk of spine injuries: checking from behind, boarding, and contact to the head.”

“However, prevention of these kinds of injuries will take a major effort from everyone involved in youth hockey — from the leagues and officials, to coaches, parents and players themselves, experts say. It will take a combination of stricter rules, better conditioning, smarter playing techniques – and maybe an overhaul of hockey culture itself.”

Here are some specific ideas:

*  “Jack’s Pledge” was established by the  family of a severely injured player.  High school hockey players are seen pledging to play more safely on a Youtube video.

*  Players who play violently even when they haven’t received a penalty should be forced to sit out for a period of time or for the time remaining to the end of the game.  

*  To help prevent spine injuries in young players, neck  strength should be increased.  Too many players have underdeveloped necks as compared to biceps and thighs.

*  Better techniques can be taught to help players with administering and receiving checks.  Programs at USA Hockey have been assisted by The Mayo Clinic to help combat both spine and head injuries.

*  Provide instruction on proper way to crash into boards.  Most players usually holds their heads down and leans into the fall.  A “heads up don’t duck” prevention strategy is being promoted which helps with the mechanism of the injury so the player can avoid it.

Source: MSN News

LAWSUIT SETTLED OVER DEATH OF KENTUCKY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYER

The wrongful death lawsuit for 15 year old Max Gilpin, who collapsed at Pleasure Ridge High School in August of 2008 and died three days later, has been settled for $1.75 million.

After Max’s death, his parents sued head coach Jason Stinson and five of his assistants. 

The settlement has been confirmed to The Courier-Journal by Lawyers of both sides and states that it enclosed no acknowledgment of liability by the defendants.

Source: Insurance Journal 

Dangers Of Cheer And Lack Of Safety Standards

I recently came across a news release from the national media on cheer injuries.  In addition to the normal horror stories, it included the following points of interest: 

• 73 cases of “catastrophic” cheerleading injuries in the U.S. over the past 26 years have been traced by Frederick Mueller, director of the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research at UNC.  These included two deaths and fractured skulls or broken necks that led to permanent disabilities.
• According to national estimates by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, almost 30,000 cheerleaders are treated in emergency rooms each year.   
• Emergency room visits from cheerleaders have tripled since the mid-80’s when cheerleading became more “like gymnasts in little skirts.” Cheerleading popularity and participation also increased during  this time.  
• High risk stunts were also on the rise. Basket tosses, pyramids, and certain tumbling runs, top the list for injuries, which are frequently executed on gymnasium floors, grass, and dirt with nothing separating the cheerleader from the hard surfaces. 
• High school cheer is not considered an official sport in most states.  Therefore, cheer doesn’t necessitate the same limits on practice time, safety equipment, or training for coaches that are essential for other high school sports. 
• The American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators (AACCA) require cheer coaches to be certified in thirteen states.  Certification often only requires an online test for coaches so there is no training in spotting techniques or gymnastics.  And only about a dozen states regulate cheer by the rules that are set by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). 
• In July, the NFHS will start offering an online cheer coach certification course comparable to the AACCA course.  Yet, each state will determine if the coach is required to take the certification course. 
• AACCA has just introduced its first set of rules, which ban double twisting dismounts and basket tosses.  And the rule only applies to the youngest cheerleaders who are on either the elementary, middle or junior high teams.  
• Susan Loomis, the NFHS rulebook editor for spirit teams comments that there is no one who acts as ‘cheer police’ at the high school level.  She does not know herself what the repercussions would be if someone did not follow or broke a rule.   

Source:  MSNBC 

Concussion Risks For Cheerleaders

“Much of the concern for young athletes at risk for concussion goes to the obvious heavy-hitters:  football, soccer, basketball.  But an expert who studies the injury in youth sports say one major activity is being overlooked: cheerleading.”

 “Female athletes may be at even higher risk for suffering a concussion than their male counterparts, Strickland said.  Girls’ neck muscles are generally weaker than boys’, making them more susceptible to dangers that come from rapid acceleration or deceleration, and whiplash.”

Source:  MSNBC

University of Georgia Settles Athlete Disability Insurance Dispute

Former cornerback, Decory Bryant’s $400,00 settlement with University of Georgia athletic association finally comes after his career ended in 2003 with a neck injury.  An Athens-Clarke judge dismissed the lawsuit that claimed the association failed to secure Bryant a $500,00 athlete disability insurance policy that would have paid him in the event he suffered a career-ending injury. 

Ed Tolley, the athletic association attorney, noted that the settlement was a sign that the “athletic association had committed to helping Bryant all along”. 

However, Bryant claimed that an official of the school failed to complete the paperwork for the $500,00 policy. 

Source:

http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2010/02/26/107703.htm