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Dr. Dan Connaughton, Professor in the Department of Sport Management, addressed this question with colleagues by analyzing awareness of state concussion legislation and the desire for new mandates by parents of youth athletes throughout the country.
Photo by Ben Hershey - Unsplash
October 27, 2022
by Collin Ulmer
Tua Tagovailoa, quarterback of the Miami Dolphins, is renowned for his ability to captain his team and manage a high-production offense in the NFL. During the 2022 season, Tagovailoa made national news after he was concussed and his muscle control to lapse.
Tagovailoa’s concussion and subsequent symptoms raised the recurring question surrounding football and other sports in the United States: should there be more regulation and awareness regarding concussions?
Dr. Dan Connaughton, Professor in the Department of Sport Management, addressed this question with colleagues by analyzing awareness of state concussion legislation and the desire for new mandates by parents of youth athletes throughout the country.
The researchers analyzed responses from 430 parents of athletes in 22 states. The survey focused on awareness of local and national laws surrounding concussions.
Sixty-five percent of parents had a strong understanding of concussion rules for youth athletes.
Some differences emerged, though. Parents who identified as White, had advanced degrees, had high household incomes, and lived in urban areas all expressed more understanding than their peers.
Half of the respondents desired mandatory reporting of concussions to parents/guardians, indicating divisiveness around the treatment of youth athletes following brain injury.
Connaughton and colleagues noted that the findings show a generally competent understanding of concussion laws. Further, many parents believe that further requirements are needed from legislation to stop traumatic brain damage from occurring and manage the consequences after concussions occur.
In discussing the findings, the researchers noted that further education on concussion protocols are “particularly necessary for families/stakeholders who face socio-cultural and economic barriers in accessing credible information about their state's concussion statute.”
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Read the full article here:
Kim, S., Connaughton, D. P., & Spengler, J. O. (2022). Youth sport parents’ familiarity and perceptions of concussion legislation. Journal of Concussion. https://doi.org/10.1177/20597002221075007
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