Okay, so what's the deal about concussions? Have they become so pervasive that parents shouldn't allow their kids to play sports such as football, hockey, baseball, lacrosse, wrestling, or even participate in cheerleading? It seems that parental concern has taken a turn towards overreaction rather than examination of the evidence. While not an attempt to practice medicine, much will be explained in this book about concussions. This book has been written for coaches, trainers, athletes, administrators, mums, dads, and sports fans of all kinds, using language and explanations that are both clear and understandable. Again, do not be so traumatised by all the negative press on concussions that you decide to remove your child from participating in sports, and remember contact sports are not the problem. A CBS news report by Jan Crawford, really underscored the problem with overreaction regarding the concussion issues. As she and so many others have stated, the vast majority of concussions are mild and caution should certainly be exercised. But removing kids from certain sports deprives them of some of the greatest life lessons they will ever experience. The joys of competition, learning sportsmanship, the camaraderie, the fellowship, the lifelong friendships, the recognition for a job well done, all are part of playing youth sports.

Parents and families are to be commended for their care, concern and involvement in the activities of their children, but also, to be cognizant of the need their youngster has to be encouraged by their family to positively participate with others in their own peer groups. The vast majority of the time, an impact in sports or even in everyday life does NOT result in a concussion. However, it is far better to err on the side of caution than to tell the injured party, "Just walk it off", or "Hey, it's nothing, you'll be fine". Part of the accountability of a parent, coach, administrator, or trainer is to ALWAYS act in the best interest of those over whom we have responsibility. One of the most important issues we must address in coaching is the need to understand the duty that accompanies the title. Winning the game is great, but regardless of the philosophies of many coaches -- particularly at the youth, high school, and to some degree college level -- winning is secondary to providing a safe and positive learning experience for your players.