Concussion Protocols
Help your school and community develop a concussion policy that applies across sports. Raise awareness about the prevalence of head injuries in various sports.
There's rising awareness of the prevalence of head injuries in youth sports. Yet many schools still lack specific protocols for how to identify and address concussions. It’s critical that schools and coaches understands the latest thinking on identifying and treating concussions, including how long players should sit out after a head injury. This information is constantly changing, so it’s really important to stay on top of new research as it comes out.
How do I get started?
Do some research on concussion risks in the sports that kids play at your school
Figure out what other communities are doing to protect their kids and raise awareness
Start an information campaign, and launch a dialogue with school and sports administrators on how to develop and adopt a school-wide plan. Your campaign can include social media, in-person posters or even events featuring speakers knowledgable in the field
Propose a concussion protocol that reflects the sports offered in your community (even if they are not offered at your school) and that contains best practices from other schools
Check out our PDF on Self-Directed Projects for more helpful tips on how to get started
How long will this take? This project is estimated to take between 15-20 hours.
How can I expand this narrative arc?
Bring in an expert to speak to your school about concussions
Launch a concussion baseline testing program at your school. Check this out: Concussion Epidemiologist
If you are interested in sports in general you could spend part of your summer attending the Wharton School’s Sports Management program or try the New York Times Summer Sports Academy.
Create public art on a local basketball court with Project Backboard
Start a fundraiser for a sports team in a nearby low income community with Support Youth Sports
If your interest is on the medical side rather than the sports side, check out one of the many prestigious (and often paid) summer internships at top medical and research institutions across American. For example:
HOT TIP: This is a great example of a community impact project that can unite your interest in sports with an interest in science. It also has high potential to raise your profile with adults in your school and community.