Youth Sports & Concussion: What Parents Need to Know
Sports can provide children and teenagers with opportunities to build confidence, develop physical skills, make friends, and learn how to work as part of a team. But sports also come with the possibility of injury, including concussion.
For parents, knowing what to do when a child may have sustained a concussion can feel overwhelming.
The most important thing parents can do is understand the signs of concussion, take symptoms seriously, and make sure their child receives appropriate evaluation and guidance before returning to sports.
What Is a Concussion?
A concussion is a type of mild traumatic brain injury caused by a force that affects how the brain functions.
A concussion can result from:
A direct blow to the head
A hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly
A fall
A collision with another player or object
Other forces that cause the brain to move within the skull
A person does not have to lose consciousness to sustain a concussion.
Symptoms can also develop immediately or become more noticeable over time.
What Are the Signs of a Concussion?
Concussion symptoms can vary considerably from one person to another.
Physical symptoms may include:
Headache
Dizziness
Nausea
Balance problems
Blurry or double vision
Sensitivity to light or sound
Fatigue
Cognitive symptoms may include:
Difficulty concentrating
Memory problems
Feeling mentally slowed down
Difficulty processing information
Brain fog
Emotional or behavioral changes may include:
Irritability
Anxiety
Sadness
Increased emotional sensitivity
Changes in behavior
Sleep can also be affected. A child may sleep more or less than usual, have difficulty falling asleep, or experience changes in sleep quality.
What Should I Do If I Think My Child Has a Concussion?
If you suspect that your child has sustained a concussion, remove them from play and have them evaluated by an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
An athlete should not return to the same practice or game after a suspected concussion unless they have been appropriately evaluated and cleared according to current medical and sport-specific guidance.
Do not encourage a child to "shake it off" or continue playing because their symptoms seem mild.
Some concussion symptoms are subtle, and an athlete may not recognize or report everything they are experiencing.
Why Do Athletes Sometimes Hide Their Symptoms?
Young athletes may be reluctant to report symptoms because they:
Don't want to leave the game
Are worried about letting their teammates down
Fear losing their position
Think the symptoms aren't serious
Don't want to disappoint a coach or parent
Believe they can simply push through
Parents and coaches can help by making it clear that reporting symptoms is a sign of good judgment, not weakness.
Creating an environment where athletes know they will be supported when they report symptoms is an important part of concussion safety.
How Does Return to Play Work?
Returning to sport after a concussion should be a gradual, individualized process.
An athlete should not go directly from being symptomatic and inactive to full-contact competition.
Instead, return-to-sport progression generally involves gradually increasing physical and sport-specific activity while monitoring for symptoms.
Depending on the individual athlete, this may include progressing through activities such as:
Daily activities and schoolwork as tolerated
Light aerobic activity
Moderate physical activity
More intense, sport-specific exercise
Non-contact practice
Full-contact practice when medically appropriate
Full return to competition
The exact progression and timing should be determined according to current clinical guidance and the athlete's individual recovery.
If symptoms return or worsen during progression, the athlete may need to step back to a previously tolerated level and consult their healthcare team.
What Role Do Coaches and Athletic Trainers Play?
Parents are an important part of concussion management, but they don't have to navigate recovery alone.
Coaches and athletic trainers can help identify concerning symptoms, remove athletes from play, monitor their response to activity, and communicate with families and healthcare providers.
Athletic trainers can be particularly valuable because they may observe athletes during practices and games and can help coordinate the return-to-sport process.
A strong concussion management plan involves communication between the:
Athlete
Parents or caregivers
Coaches
Athletic trainers
Physicians
Rehabilitation providers
School personnel, when appropriate
What About School?
Returning to school is often an important part of concussion recovery.
Some children and teenagers may be able to return to school relatively quickly, while others may temporarily need adjustments to manage symptoms.
Depending on the student's needs, accommodations may include:
Additional breaks
Reduced screen exposure
Extra time for assignments or tests
Reduced workload
A quieter environment
Modified physical education
Temporary adjustments to the school day
The goal is generally not to keep a child completely isolated from school until every symptom disappears. Instead, the return to cognitive activity should be individualized based on symptoms and recovery.
If your child is struggling significantly with school following a concussion, talk with their healthcare and school teams about appropriate support.
How Can Parents Support Recovery?
Parents can help by paying attention to changes in symptoms and behavior while supporting a gradual return to normal activities.
Helpful strategies may include:
Take symptoms seriously
If your child reports headache, dizziness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, or other symptoms, listen to them and communicate those changes to their healthcare team.
Encourage appropriate activity
Concussion recovery does not necessarily mean complete inactivity. Your child's healthcare provider can help determine what level and type of physical and cognitive activity is appropriate.
Support healthy routines
Regular sleep, hydration, nutrition, and gradual activity can all be important components of recovery.
Communicate with the school
Teachers, counselors, athletic staff, and school administrators may need to understand what your child is experiencing and what temporary adjustments may be appropriate.
Stay involved
Your child may need help recognizing when they are becoming overwhelmed or symptomatic, particularly early in recovery.
What About the Long-Term Risks of Concussion?
Parents understandably have questions about whether repeated head injuries can have long-term consequences.
Research into the long-term effects of repetitive head impacts and repeated concussion is ongoing. Risk can vary depending on many factors, including the number and severity of injuries, the amount and type of exposure to head impacts, recovery between injuries, and individual factors.
Because the science continues to evolve, parents should be cautious about making decisions based on a single statistic or study.
Instead, focus on what can be done now:
Recognize symptoms. Remove an athlete from play when a concussion is suspected. Seek appropriate evaluation. Follow a gradual return-to-sport process. And take recovery seriously.
Should My Child Stop Playing Sports?
There is no single answer that applies to every child or every sport.
Parents may weigh many factors when deciding which activities are appropriate for their child, including the type of sport, the child's age and development, the level of competition, injury history, access to qualified medical care, and the child's individual health and goals.
The decision is ultimately a personal one.
What matters from a concussion-care perspective is that families have access to accurate information and that children who sustain a concussion receive appropriate evaluation and support.
For families who choose to participate in contact or collision sports, having a plan for concussion recognition and management can be an important part of preparation.
When Should My Child See a Concussion Specialist?
Consider seeking additional evaluation if your child continues to experience symptoms after a concussion or is having difficulty returning to normal activities, school, exercise, or sports.
Persistent symptoms may include:
Headaches
Dizziness or balance problems
Vision changes
Brain fog
Difficulty concentrating
Fatigue
Sleep problems
Exercise intolerance
Emotional changes
A comprehensive concussion evaluation can help identify which symptoms or systems may be contributing to difficulty with recovery and determine whether additional rehabilitation is appropriate.
Supporting a Safe Return to the Activities Your Child Loves
A concussion does not necessarily mean the end of an athlete's participation in sports.
With appropriate evaluation, individualized management, and communication between families, schools, coaches, athletic trainers, and healthcare providers, many young athletes can work toward returning to the activities that are important to them.