Sports Related Childhood Brain Injuries

Through hockey, football and soccer, we are possibly placing our children in harm's way. There is the potential for brain injuries in all of these sports. But the dangers can be avoided if common sense is used and proper safety measures are considered.

More than half of the sports-related brain injuries that children suffer is while playing ice hockey, generally as a result of player contact, getting hit from behind or being hit into the boards. In football it is usually as a result of tackling and in soccer, it will result from head-to-head contact, collisions, high kicks or from hitting goal posts. Baseball injuries are usually the result of ball, bat or another player contact. This occurs more often in younger players, usually under ten, who stand too close to the swing of a bat or don't wear proper head gear when on the field. Other sports teams, where people can suffer head injuries, are lacrosse and basketball. Injuries in basketball have increased significantly in the past ten years from elbowing or by hitting a fixed structure.

Soccer and hockey are the most common sports played by children's leagues particularly for those in the five to fourteen age range. But other sports outside of leagues where there can be the potential for brain injuries are for skiers, snowboarders, cyclists, skateboarders, water skiers and for those who horseback ride.

There are, however, safeguards that can be adhered to in an attempt to protect our children against brain injuries while playing sports. They are:

- All children should wear protective gear, which includes properly fitted helmets that are worn correctly. And proper equipment should be used at all times - both in games and at practices.

- All rules and regulations for each sport should be strictly adhered to, i.e.: by following game regulations and making sure that all rules are enforced. (One rule that is not strictly enforced is hitting from behind in hockey which continues to happen in spite of the rule against it).

- All government officials, sports organizations, sports sponsors, schools, coaches, parents and players need to be aware of the dangers, and to change their behaviours and attitudes.

- Adult supervision should be mandatory in all children's sports.

- There should be programs available to educate the public on the dangers of children in sports and subsequent head injuries.

- There should be rules and incentives in place to encourage safety in sports.

- In soccer and football, padded goal posts should be on every field as both of these sports are highly physical games and children are at risk of injuries.

Although I no longer have young children playing sports, I do have grandchildren who play baseball and soccer. I see my seven year old grandson heading the ball, which is encouraged in soccer even with the very young, and wonder what that is doing to his brain. My son feels that the ball is not being kicked with any great force at that age so it's unlikely to do any damage.

I believe very strongly that attitudes have to change and people have to be educated. We have to protect our young people. They have no one else to do it for them but us.