Traumatic Brain Injury Fund

Concussion In Youth Sports Summit

On February 24, 2006 , the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey hosted the first Concussion in Youth Sports Summit in New Jersey . Over 150 delegates from over 65 statewide organizations attended, who share a common interest in protecting young athletes from the negative effects of concussion. The Summit, which took place in the Stadium Club at Giants Stadium, brought attention to the importance of properly identifying, measuring, monitoring and managing concussions and provided delegates with a great deal of information and resources. A large group discussion at the end of the day, facilitated by Steve Adubato, invited delegates to participate in directing the next steps of the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey’s campaign to increase public information and prevention education on concussion in youth sports.

Summit Program

The Summit program covered diagnosis, treatment and prevention of sports-related concussions. Delegates to the Summit included leaders and key decision makers representing youth sports organizations and first responders—such as coaches, officials, physicians, school nurses, athletic trainers, parents, and administrators, to name a few. The Summit enlisted these leaders in the Concussion Campaign and laid the groundwork by which they can actively further it within their own programs and communities. View the Summit Program.

Purpose

  • To bring attention to the importance and relevance of properly identifying, measuring, monitoring and managing concussions
  • To provide the opportunity, information and resources for organizations that have a direct impact on young athletes to share a common understanding of concussion
  • To bring together a multi-disciplinary group of agencies and individuals to develop a New Jersey Concussion in Sports Action Plan

Presentations

The following material, presented at the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey Concussion in Youth Sports Summit , on February 24, 2006 , is the property of the respective presenters and/or the organizations that they represent. It is shared here for reference purposes only.

Epidemiology: Defining the Problem
Wes Rutland-Brown, MPH

Evolution of Understanding Concussions
Robert C. Cantu, MA, MD, FACS, FICS, FACSM

What Really Happens When You Are Concussed: Pathophysiology
Stephen Rice, MD, PhD, MPH, FAAP, FACSM

What Really Happens when You Are Concussed: Sideline Assessment of Concussions
Phil Hossler, ATC

The Impact of Concussion on Learning: Out of Sight, Not Out of Mind
Ronald C. Savage, EdD

Prevention: Outlining the Solutions
Jill Brooks, PhD

Summit Resource Book

Each delegate at the Summit received a book received these resources.

Presentations
  • Faculty Biographies
  • Presentation Slides
Concussion in Sports Campaign

Media Outreach

This section of the Resource Book included news releases and articles written for the Concussion in Sports Campaign, as well as some of the articles that have been produced media on this initiative. The most current releases and articles are available on the Media Outreach page of this site.

Materials & Resources

Concussion in Sports Materials Available from CDC Heads Up: Concussion in High School Sports (CDC Tool Kit for Coaches)

This kit includes a video and DVD featuring a young athlete disabled by concussion, a guide, wallet card and clip board sticker for coaches, posters, fact sheets for parents and athletes in English and Spanish, and a CD-ROM with downloadable kit materials and additional concussion-related resources. To order a free copy, visit: www.cdc.gov/ncipc/tbi/coaches_tool_kit.htm.

Concussion in Sports Materials Available from Brain Injury Association of NJ Additional Literature Additional Reading

ImPACT GRANT ANNOUNCEMENT

At the Summit, the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey held a press conference to announce the availability of grant funds for New Jersey high schools to implement ImPACT, Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing, for their student athletes. ABC Channel 7’s Dr. Jay Adlersberg and CBS Channel 2’s Jay Dow, as well as WMBC-TV, The Record, and Star-Ledger were in attendance. This is the first opportunity of its kind for our state’s high school athletic departments. Read more…