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Health & Fitness

Concussions a Focus on Youth Sports

A quick guide on concussions to parents who's kids are involved in youth sports.

I’m not a Bruins guy. I’m not even a hockey guy. I’m more of a Sports Center guy, so more of my sports knowledge outside of the immediate Boston teams come from osmosis while ESPN is on every morning.

Owning and operating a youth sports league, i9 Sports, safety is always a top priority. So I’ve been keeping track of injuries to professional athletes like boxers, MMA fighters, and now it seems like more and more NHL stars are receiving serious brain injuries that are ending their seasons or even their careers.

In fact, Bruins forward Nathan Horton received a concussion last year during the Stanley Cup, and he still isn’t playing yet. Sidney Crosby, one of the best young players in the sport, has essentially missed the last season with post concussion stress disorder.

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Concussions are hardly a new phenomenon. However, the emphasis on them and how carefully they are not treated, is. Ten years ago, NFL or NHL players didn’t get concussions. They “had their bell rung” or “got a stinger.” But only recently, as the player’s unions became stronger in professional sports, has this issue been something every league and team is dealing with.

So, with all the emphasis on professional athletes, what can we do about kids playing youth sports to make sure the are safe?

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First off, concussions aren’t just the result of a smashing helmet to helmet hit. A kid can get a concussion from simply falling and hitting his head in the wrong way.

Here are a few warning signs that your child may have a concussion:

-Slurred speech

-Nauseous

-Headaches

-Can’t walk straight

-Memory loss

If your child is experiencing any of these, take him or her to the emergency room as soon as possible. Always remember, with concussions, it’s better to be safe than sorry, and being proactive as a parent can help your child with head injuries down the road.

Matt Elder owns and operates i9 Sports. For more information on the programs, please visit www.i9sports.com today.

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