{"id":526640,"date":"2025-10-01T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-01T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/?p=526640"},"modified":"2025-09-30T16:52:28","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T20:52:28","slug":"what-parents-need-to-know-about-concussions-in-youth-sports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wellness\/2025\/10\/01\/what-parents-need-to-know-about-concussions-in-youth-sports\/","title":{"rendered":"What Parents Need to Know About Concussions in Youth Sports"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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By Gerard Gioia, PhD, director of the Safe Concussion Outcome, Recovery & Education (SCORE) program at Children\u2019s National Hospital.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The beginning of the school year for kids and teens means sports and extracurricular activities are back in full swing. For many parents, sports \u2014 particularly contact sports \u2014 can be a source of anxiety due to the potential for injury, including the often-feared concussion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Gerard Gioia<\/a>, director of the Safe Concussion Outcome, Recovery & Education (SCORE) program<\/a> at Children\u2019s National Hospital, offers insights into how to help kids stay safe and healthy on and off the field, court, or ice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Exactly Is a Concussion?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A concussion occurs when the brain has taken a force that leads to the disruption of its normal electro-chemical function. In other words, it\u2019s a \u201csoftware injury\u201d that temporarily disrupts how the brain operates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Debunking Common Concussion Myths<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

1. Is it safe for kids and teens to play contact sports?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
    <\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Yes, if taught and played correctly. Safety in sports hinges on proper coaching, good technique and an emphasis on safe play, such as how to execute a tackle in football or a pin in wrestling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The issue is not about removing all risks because life naturally involves some. Rather, it\u2019s how you manage and educate about those risks that makes a difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    2. Is there an age that\u2019s considered too young for contact sports?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Not necessarily. Combined cognitive and physical maturity, not age, is a better guide. A lot of organizations like football have said, “Well, we\u2019ll define it by age,\u201d and we say that\u2019s the simple but wrong method.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Every child develops and matures at their own pace. For example, a 10-year-old may have better coordination, understanding of the game and decision-making skills than a taller or older peer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    3. What about baseline testing?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    While baseline testing \u2014 evaluating an athlete\u2019s cognitive function before a concussion occurs \u2014 can be helpful, it\u2019s not practical in youth sports. Some athletes will \u201csandbag,\u201d or underperform on purpose, to make it easier to get back on the field after a concussion. A trained professional is necessary to understand and manage these issues, and typically youth sports programs lack expert resources and time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Instead of relying on baseline testing, coaches and parents need to understand how to recognize a suspected concussion. Families should trust the pediatric care systems already available. With trained clinicians, recovery decisions can be tailored to the individual child based on current symptoms and needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Identify, Treat, and Prevent<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The main goal for kids and their families when dealing with concussion injuries should be to maximize recovery outcomes, which come down to three simple steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. Identify early<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Treat properly<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Prevent further injury<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      While long-term effects of concussions are still being studied, experts believe that with proper treatment and care, children can recover fully. With more awareness of concussions now than ever before, the road to recovery is made much smoother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Resources and Recommendations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n