CONCUSSION SAFETY – ALL AGES
In this post, I will shed light on a topic that sometimes goes unnoticed: concussion safety for baseball players. While establishing good habits from a young age is crucial, it is equally important to safeguard the heads and brains of players, regardless of their age. While concussions can occur on the field, it is particularly common for these incidents to happen at the plate while batting and at the catcher position. Therefore, we will delve into both concussion safety at and behind the plate, emphasizing its significance.
This post is for all age groups.
As children/players mature, their brain undergoes continuous development. Consequently, it becomes imperative for coaches and parents to receive proper training in concussion protocols and be knowledgeable about the signs of concussions to prevent complications. It is crucial to note that concussion symptoms can often be subtle and easily missed. Therefore, when in doubt, it is essential to lean on the side of caution and promptly remove your child/player from the game until a thorough evaluation can be conducted.
No game, victory, or statistical achievement should take precedence over the well-being of your child/player. If any coach holds a different perspective, I strongly recommend addressing the matter with your league president and seriously considering the option of removing your child from the team. While this may appear drastic, it is essential to recognize that concussions, particularly when repeated, can have severe consequences on brain development and potentially cause irreparable damage that can impact an individual's entire life.
When is a concussion likely to occur?
There are a number of different scenarios that can result in a concussion:
- Batter gets hit in the head (with or without a batting helmet)
- Runner collides with a fielder while running the bases
- Fielders collide making a play for the ball
- Catcher gets hit in the head with a bat
The list above is not exhaustive and not there to scare you but rather to raise awareness. Concussions are uncommon but serious events that should not be taken lightly.
What are the symptoms of a concussion?
As previously mentioned, concussion symptoms can be very subtle and can mimic symptoms from other issues. However, if your child/player is experiencing any of the below after being hit in the head or receiving a blow to the body that jars the head, it is possible that they have experienced a concussion:
- Headache
- Feeling of pressure in the head
- Balance problems or dizziness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Blurry or double vision
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Feeling fatigued, groggy, or dazed
- Attention issues or being slow to understand and respond
- Memory loss or confusion
- Sleeping problems
- Mood changes and irritability
- Changes in behavior and/or personality
What should I do if a suspect a concussion?
If you suspect that a child has suffered a concussion, it is crucial to promptly remove them from the game or practice and immediately seek medical care from a trained professional for proper evaluation and treatment.
Coaches, I understand that many leagues mandate concussion protocol training, and while this is a vital step in enabling you to recognize concussion symptoms in your players, it is important to acknowledge that it does not make you a medical professional. Therefore, it is your responsibility to advocate for the well-being of your players and strongly encourage parents to have their child/children evaluated by a doctor. By fostering a culture that prioritizes safety above all, we can ensure the optimal care and protection of our players.
How to mitigate concussion risks
While concussions are uncommon but serious events, there are ways to reduce the risks of concussions. The best thing you can do is to create a safe environment for your child/players during batting practice/hitting drills. One crucial step is to enforce the mandatory use of helmets without any exceptions whenever a player is batting, regardless of the setting—be it the batting cage, on the field, soft-toss sessions, coach-pitch scenarios, or even backyard practices.
As players grow older, you may encounter resistance to wearing helmets with remarks like, "It's not cool to wear a helmet." Similarly, younger children might express discomfort, feeling hot, or impaired vision while wearing helmets. As a parent or coach, it is important not to succumb to any of these lines. If it is too hot to wear a helmet, it is too hot to have batting practice. If the helmet is uncomfortable or hinders vision, it might be time to purchase a new helmet that is the appropriate size for your child. No excuse should take precedence over safety.
When it comes to the catcher position, it is important to acknowledge that your child is more susceptible to physical contact and potential injuries during both practice and games. While rules have been implemented across all levels of play, from little league to the MLB, to minimize the risks of playing the catcher position, it remains undeniable that catchers are significantly more exposed to potential hazards compared to other positions and it isn’t even close.
At younger ages, all catchers should wear “hockey-style” masks along with other necessary protective equipment whenever they catch (NO EXCEPTIONS). If you wish to introduce a traditional-style mask it should only be done in a controlled environment with proper adult supervision and guidance during drills and not in a game situations.
The reason for this is because we as humans are naturally inclined to turn our heads when an object is approaching our face. The hockey-style mask provides protection to both the sides of the head and face, whereas a traditional mask does not. Therefore, for this age group, it is crucial to prioritize the use of the hockey-style mask.
As your child gets older, the decision of whether to continue using the hockey-style mask or to transition to a traditional mask becomes a family matter. Each mask option has its own advantages and disadvantages, and it is important to weigh them carefully before making a choice that best suits your child's needs and safety considerations.
Hockey style catcher’s mask.
Traditional catcher’s mask.
The Coach “Debunks” Myths:
1. Is it okay to not wear a batting helmet in the backyard – FALSE. A batting helmet should be worn anytime a child is swinging a bat even for activities like wiffle-balls or sponge-balls. Remember, safety is paramount. As a parent, you can make adjustments as needed based on the specific circumstances.
2. Concussions can only happen if my child/player is hit in the head – FALSE. While it is true that the most common cause of concussions is a direct blow to the head, it is not the only way. A forceful body blow that jolts the head can also lead to a concussion. It is crucial to recognize that head injuries can happen in various ways and to take appropriate precautions.
3. Concussions can have lasting impacts on cognitive development and should be taken seriously – TRUE. If you suspect that your child/player has suffered a concussion, please remove them from play (game, practice, etc.) immediately and have them evaluated by a trained and licensed professional before resuming activity. It is always better to lean on the side of caution when it comes to head injuries.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at:
mk.kingofthediamond@gmail.com
