Two years ago, the Georgia High School Association adopted national rules dealing with possible head injuries and gave explicit procedures for personnel to follow. More than 4,000 coaches in the state have taken an online course about concussion-like symptoms, according to GHSA executive director Ralph Swearngin.
If a player shows signs of a concussion, the referee or coach is supposed to order him out of the game immediately. The student has to be examined by appropriate healthcare personnel on the sidelines. If there’s a possibility of a concussion, the student must sit out the game and undergo further medical evaluation.
Here’s what a few coaches think about the new rules compared with those of years ago:
Al Hughes, Lovejoy: I've been in the business for 35 years. Back in the day, we just rubbed some dirt on your head, put a band-aid on it, took an aspirin and kept on going. In retrospect, I'm glad I didn't have anyone hurt more severely through the years. I think nowadays there's a whole lot better precautions taken, and obviously the helmets are better. The precautions make us more aware and alert to the dangers involved. I think I might have killed a bunch of my own brain cells when I was playing. It's much safer for today's players.
Corey Jarvis, Duluth: I know about concussions because I had five of them when I played in high school and college. Back in the day, I remember cases where kids probably had concussions, and the doctors said they were good to go and play. Nothing remotely like that would happen now. We don't play around with that here. If a kid has a head injury in a practice or game, the kid needs to come out. Even if they're not sure, they're off the field to see the medical people.
Chip Walker, Sandy Creek: The safety of a kid is the most important thing. We're going to do whatever we have to do to make sure the kids are safe. When I first started coaching 17 years ago, you heard minimal about it. Now with what you see in the NFL and college, there's a lot more talk about it. There are more cautions that have to be taken. It's one of those things you have to be aware of at all times.
About the Author
