Texas officials are requiring that the state’s largest schools report concussions sustained by high-school athletes in a move seen as the nation’s biggest effort to track brain injuries among young athletes.
The University Interscholastic League (UIL) on Monday ordered the schools to submit individual concussion reports.
School staff must answer more than a dozen questions on each player — such as when the concussion occurred, whether it came from contact with the ground or another player, and so on — that are relayed to researchers with the O’Donnell Brain Institute at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
“This is the first of its kind quality-improvement program in the country, certainly the largest,” UIL deputy director Jamey Harrison said on Tuesday.
All 50 states by 2014 had passed rules or laws to address concussions in youth athletics, with all including some provision that an athlete suspected of having a concussion be removed from play.
However, it is believed that Texas is one of just a few states that requires mandatory reporting.
The change in Texas means the collaboration with the institute becomes the largest study of head trauma to young athletes.
“We’re pleased about mandating at least a subset of schools to report, because that will enhance the information that we’re able to obtain,” said Munro Cullum, a professor of psychiatry, neurology and neurotherapeutics with the institute.
A primary goal is to determine the frequency of concussions, Cullum said.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that up to 3.8 million athletic and recreation-related concussions occur each year in the US, but Cullum said that the figures are only based on emergency room visits.
Dawn Comstock, a professor of epidemiology with the Colorado School of Public Health, credits the move by the UIL, but said it tracks concussions after they occur and does not prevent them in the first place.
The change “does absolutely nothing to prevent initial concussions,” Comstock said by e-mail. “That is frequently lost during these discussions.”
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely