As a neuropsychologist specializing in the evaluation and management of sports concussions, it is distressing to see how kids sometimes react when I recommend retirement from contact or collision sports. Even when the recommendation comes after the athlete has suffered a fourth concussion in the past year, is continuing to experience post-concussion symptoms [1], and has seen their academic performance [2] suffer, a tearful, depressed [3], and/or angry athlete will sometimes stubbornly respond by saying, "I don't care. I won't stop playing."
It is likewise difficult to see good, caring parents struggle to do what is right because they are afraid retirement might leave their child emotionally devastated, and do not want to see their child unhappy.
Some parents and athletes may try desperately to convince themselves and the doctors that another concussion won't happen, that they will defy the odds. And, believe it or not, in some extreme cases, young athletes in my care have become so angry and emotional (partly due to the brain changes from their concussions which can result in irritability and depression [3]) that they threaten to hurt themselves if their school won't allow them back on the field. It is hard to believe sometimes that sports can have such a strong hold on the lives of our children as well as on our own lives.
For some parents and athletes, a recommendation to retire from contact or collision sports comes as a relief, because the journey of multiple concussions, long-lasting symptoms [4], and the effect on overall quality of life has led them to appreciate that the brain is too precious to jeopardize any further.
For others, the decision to change sports is extremely agonizing. For them, their sport has defined who they are as athletes, as parents, and as a family. Leaving the sport means no longer being part of a social network and a group of their peers (for both parents [5] and kids), and leaving behind the travel, the games, the tournaments, and joy of team success, and eliminating a way of expressing a specific athletic talent that has been groomed and nurtured for years, often since early childhood. Unfortunately, for a few, it may mean removing the only activity in which the child fields confident and self-assured.
I have found that the athletes who fare best when forced to retire from a contact or collision sport are those who also enjoy other low-risk sports, are talented in other endeavors in their lives, have clear academic goals, fear the risk of further injuring their brains, have high self-esteem, and have parents who are easily able tomake the responsible choice and support the retirement decision.
As a result, here are some strategies I suggest be employed by parents of children playing contact or collision sports to ensure the best possible outcome for their child:
Links:
[1] https://mail.momsteam.com/node/149
[2] https://mail.momsteam.com/node/3376
[3] https://mail.momsteam.com/node/143
[4] https://mail.momsteam.com/node/3550
[5] https://mail.momsteam.com/node/2829
[6] http://fast.wistia.com/embed/iframe/5a1f762e45?videoWidth=640&videoHeight=360&controlsVisibleOnLoad=true&autoPlay=true&popover=true&plugin[postRoll][version]=v1&plugin[postRoll][text]=For more youth sports concussion information, click here.&plugin[postRoll][link]=http://www.momsteam.com/health-safety/concussion-safety&plugin[postRoll][style][backgroundColor]=#050505&plugin[postRoll][style][color]=#55b8fa&plugin[postRoll][style][fontSize]=36px&plugin[postRoll][style][fontFamily]=Gill Sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif&plugin[socialbar][version]=v1&plugin[socialbar][buttons]=embed-email-twitter-googlePlus-facebook&plugin[socialbar][tweetText]=True or false: emotional problems after concussion are common?&plugin[socialbar][showTweetCount]=true
[7] https://mail.momsteam.com/node/3015
[8] https://mail.momsteam.com/node/2904
[9] https://mail.momsteam.com/node/5383
[10] https://mail.momsteam.com/successful-parenting/youth-sports-pluses-and-minuses-for-parents
[11] https://mail.momsteam.com/successful-parenting/early-sport-specialization-may-interfere-with-healthy-child-development-increase-social-isolation
[12] https://mail.momsteam.com/health-safety/persistent-effects-concussion
[13] https://mail.momsteam.com/pcss/teens-with-multiple-concussion-history-much-more-likely-report-continuing-symptoms
[14] https://mail.momsteam.com/health-safety/concussion-safety/multiple-concussion-history-important-factor-in-concussion-management
[15] https://mail.momsteam.com/health-safety/general-safety/injury-treatment/recovery-from-youth-sports-injury-step-by-step process
[16] https://mail.momsteam.com/health-safety/neuropsychologist-should-help-plan-academic-accommodations-after-concussion
[17] https://mail.momsteam.com/health-safety/concussion-safety/news-studies/concussions-linked-to-depression-study-says
[18] https://mail.momsteam.com/health-safety/every-state-has-youth-sports-concussion-safety-law