Ivy League Puts Stringent Anti-Concussion Rules On Its Football Teams

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Posted on 25th July 2011 by Gordon Johnson in Uncategorized

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Ivy League schools are taking a very smart approach to cutting down on the number of concussions that their football teams suffer, according to the Associated Press. And they’re to be applauded for it.

The Ivy League teams will only be permitting their football players to have two “full contact” practices each week, whereas the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)  permits five.

http://www.nj.com/princeton/index.ssf/2011/07/ivy_league_sets_new_standard_i.html

The eight Ivy League colleges are apparently trying to take a leadership role as far as concussion-safety measures, and their presidents signed off on a number of recommenations made by a special committee.

These recommendations will be operative this season, and will “also limit contact workouts to one during preseason two-a-day workouts,” according to AP.

As part of these brain-injury precautions, players will be instructed on correct tackling methods, the symptoms of concussions and the long-term effect of repeated brain injury.

The Ivy League also plans to crack down, and carefully scrutinize, helmet-to-helmet hits, suspending players when warranted.

The committee was co-chaired by college presidents who also happen to be medical doctors, namely Dartmouth President Jim Yong Kim and Cornell President David Skorton. That perhaps contributed to the very prudent moves that the Ivy League is making, which are more stringent than the NCAA’s guidelines.

In fact, it appears that the Ivy League may even be going a bit beyond what the National Football League has said about brain injury. Basically, the committee acknowledged that repeated hits to the head, even if they don’t cause a concussion, can lead to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in some players. CTE leads to memory loss, depression and other problems for those who have it.

AP then quoted Kim.

“Given the lack of data regarding the number or type of hits that may cause long-term consequences in certain individuals, the committee concluded that it is important to minimize the likelihood and severity of hits to the head,” Kim said.        

Right on, Kim.

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