Safety in Sports Concussions: What Every Parent, Athlete, and Coach Should Know

Each September, National Concussion Awareness Day shines a spotlight on an injury that too often gets overlooked: concussions. Once brushed off as “just getting your bell rung,” concussions are now recognized as serious brain injuries that require careful management, especially in contact sports. For young athletes, the consequences of returning to play too soon can be life-altering, both for them and their loved ones.

Concussions are often misunderstood, minimized, or overlooked, yet medical research shows that even a single untreated concussion can lead to long-term cognitive, emotional, and physical challenges. This is why it’s essential for families, educators, coaches, and sports organizations to fully understand both the medical risks of concussions and the safety laws designed to protect athletes on and off the field.

What Exactly Is a Concussion?

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or even a hit to the body that forces the head to move suddenly. This rapid motion can disrupt normal brain function for days, weeks, or even for life.

Contrary to common belief, a concussion does not always involve loss of consciousness. Symptoms can vary widely, including:

• Headaches or pressure in the head
• Dizziness, balance problems, or blurred vision
• Trouble concentrating or remembering
• Sensitivity to light or noise
• Fatigue, confusion, or mood changes

Symptoms may appear immediately, or they may emerge hours or even days after the injury. That’s why parents, coaches, and athletes themselves should never assume “feeling fine” means the brain is healed. The brain itself cannot feel pain or touch, which means you could be suffering a significant brain injury without even knowing it.

Why Are Concussions So Dangerous in Sports?

Sports are one of the leading causes of concussions, particularly among children and teenagers. Contact sports such as football, hockey, soccer, and lacrosse carry the highest risks, but concussions can happen in cheerleading, basketball, or even non-contact sports where falls are possible.

One of the greatest dangers athletes face when it comes to concussions is from second-impact syndrome. This occurs when a second concussion occurs before the first has fully healed. The brain is especially vulnerable during this recovery window, and a second hit can cause severe swelling, permanent brain damage, or even death. Because it is hard to tell if the brain is injured, many people get a second-impact syndrome concussion without even knowing they have previously suffered a concussion.

This is why experts stress the principle: “When in doubt, sit it out.”

How Do Athletes Safely Return to Play?

Medical professionals now follow a graduated return-to-play protocol. This is a step-by-step approach that slowly reintroduces activity once symptoms have resolved. The general steps, based on international consensus guidelines, include:

1. Complete rest, because it is difficult to determine how significant the concussion is at first. The rest of the symptoms should be completely resolved and no longer require medication to manage.
2. Light aerobic exercise, such as walking or stationary cycling, with no resistance training.
3. Sport-specific activities, such as simple drills that do not risk head contact or sudden jolts or acceleration.
4. Non-contact training drills, like more complex drills, possibly with light resistance training.
5. Full-contact practice, but only after medical clearance.
6. Return to competition, only once the risk of playing with a traumatic brain injury has been ruled out.

Each stage usually lasts at least 24 hours. If symptoms return, the athlete must go back to the previous step and rest before progressing again. In practice, this means at least one week before returning to games, though recovery may take longer. Typically, children should wait longer than adult athletes.

What About Returning to School After a Concussion?

Concussions affect more than athletics; they also impact learning. Students may struggle with concentration, memory, and screen time. A similar step-wise approach helps students ease back into academics:

• Start with quiet activities at home, like reading or light screen use.
• Add short bursts of homework or cognitive tasks outside the classroom.
• Return to school part-time with frequent breaks.
• Resume full school days once symptoms are under control.

 Schools play a critical role here, and many states now require individualized “return-to-learn” plans for students recovering from traumatic brain injuries.

What Laws Protect Young Athletes From Concussions?

Legal protections for young athletes have grown significantly in recent years. After the tragic case of Zackery Lystedt, a 13-year-old from Washington state who suffered permanent brain damage when he was allowed to return to a football game too soon, Washington became the first state to pass a youth sports concussion safety law in 2009.

Since then, all 50 states plus Washington, DC, have enacted concussion laws, often modeled on the Lystedt Law. Common requirements include:

• Annual concussion education for coaches, parents, and athletes.
• Immediate removal from play if a concussion is suspected.
• No return to play until evaluated and cleared by a licensed healthcare provider.
• Written clearance is required before resuming competition.

Some states go further, requiring baseline neurocognitive testing, standardized sideline evaluations, or mandatory reporting. For example, Colorado’s Jake Snakenberg Youth Sports Concussion Act requires coaches to complete annual concussion training and follow strict removal and clearance protocols.

These laws recognize the unique dangers that concussions pose to young, developing minds. The legal system now recognizes that protecting children’s brains is more important than winning games.

How Do Colleges and Professional Teams Handle Concussions?

At higher levels of play, additional protocols are in place:

• The NCAA requires every school to create a concussion management plan, distribute educational materials, and conduct baseline testing.
• Major professional leagues like the NFL, NHL, and MLS have their own concussion protocols, sometimes sport-specific (e.g., heading drills in soccer).
• Teams often rely on multidisciplinary medical staff, but only a designated provider can clear an athlete to return.

Even so, controversies continue. Critics argue that conflicts of interest can arise when team doctors face pressure to clear star athletes. This is why clear, enforceable protocols remain essential to help secure athletes’ safety.

How Can Parents and Athletes Advocate for Safety?

Education and vigilance are key. Families and athletes can take proactive steps to reduce risk:

• Learn the signs of a concussion and don’t ignore subtle symptoms.
• Communicate honestly with coaches and trainers. Athletes should never hide symptoms to stay in the game.
• Know your state’s laws and your school or league’s concussion protocol.
• Insist on medical clearance from a qualified professional, not just a coach’s judgment.
• Keep records of baseline testing, symptoms, and medical evaluations.

Parents should feel empowered to step in if they believe a child is being pushed back into play too soon. Remember, protecting a child’s long-term health is more important than short-term performance. If a young athlete returns to the field or practice too soon, the consequences could last a lifetime.

What Happens If Concussion Protocols Are Ignored?

When organizations, schools, or coaches fail to follow concussion laws or medical standards, the results can be devastating. Premature return to play has been linked to second-impact syndrome, brain swelling, paralysis, and even death.

From a legal standpoint, these failures can expose schools, leagues, and medical providers to liability. Attorneys often investigate whether:

• The recognized standard of care was followed.
• Proper records and evaluations were kept.
• The athlete and parents were adequately informed.
• Conflicts of interest compromised medical decision-making.

When safety protocols are ignored, the athlete is the one who pays the price.

Why National Concussion Awareness Day Matters

National Concussion Awareness Day takes place on the third Friday of every September. Awareness campaigns exist because old attitudes die hard. Too many coaches still believe their athletes just need to “tough it out,” while some parents and players underestimate the seriousness of concussions.

National Concussion Awareness Day is a reminder that:

• Concussions are traumatic brain injuries, not minor bumps.
• Recovery requires time, patience, and medical oversight.
• Education and laws exist to prevent tragedies, but they only do so if they are followed.

The more families, coaches, and athletes understand the risks, the better we can protect players at every level of sport.

Protecting Athletes Starts with Knowledge and Awareness of Concussions’ Dangers

Concussions can change lives in an instant. Fortunately, with proper protocols, most athletes recover fully and safely return to the sports they love in as little as a week. But when those protocols are ignored and athletes play while concussed, the consequences are often catastrophic.

At Ogborn Mihm, we’ve seen firsthand how brain injuries affect not just athletes, but entire families. If you, your child, or a loved one has suffered a concussion that was mishandled by a school, league, or medical provider, you may have legal options to get the compensation you deserve. You can contact our brain injury team online or call at 303.592.5900.  

About the Author

Amanda Pfeil Hood is a trial lawyer at Ogborn Mihm, LLP who devotes a significant part of her practice to advocating for individuals and families affected by traumatic brain injuries. She has represented numerous clients whose lives were permanently altered by concussions and other serious head injuries, holding schools, leagues, and medical providers accountable when safety protocols were ignored. Amanda’s work reflects both deep legal knowledge and a compassionate understanding of the medical and emotional challenges faced by brain-injured clients, making her a trusted advocate in the field of catastrophic injury litigation.