_edited.png)
Back in the Game Too Soon?
What Parents Should Know About Concussions and Youth Sports
October is one of the busiest times of the year for youth sports.
Football fields are packed on Friday nights. Soccer seasons are in full swing. Volleyball, cheer, cross-country, and other activities are filling up calendars across Cameron and Willacy Counties.
For many children, sports are an important part of growing up. They build friendships, confidence, discipline, and a sense of belonging.
But when a young athlete takes a hard hit, falls, or collides with another player, there is one phrase parents should be very careful about:
“Just shake it off.”
A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury, or TBI, and while many children recover well, a concussion needs to be taken seriously. Symptoms are not always obvious, a child does not have to lose consciousness, and some symptoms may not appear until hours or even days after the injury.
At the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Cameron & Willacy Counties, one of our goals is to help families better understand traumatic brain injuries and recognize when a child may need additional care.
For parents of young athletes, that begins with knowing what to look for and understanding why returning to play too quickly can put a child at greater risk.
A Concussion Does Not Always Look Dramatic
When people hear the word “concussion,” they may picture an athlete being knocked unconscious.
That is not always what happens.
A child may get up immediately after a collision, walk off the field, and even insist that they feel fine.
Later, however, a parent might notice that something seems different.
A child with a concussion may experience:
Headache or pressure in the head
Dizziness or balance problems
Nausea or vomiting
Blurred or double vision
Sensitivity to light or noise
Difficulty concentrating
Memory problems
Feeling unusually tired or sluggish
Irritability, sadness, nervousness, or emotional changes
Changes in sleep
The CDC emphasizes that concussion signs and symptoms may not appear immediately. Some can take hours or days to become noticeable.
That means parents should continue watching their child after the game is over.
The Game Ends. Your Job as a Parent Doesn't.
Imagine this.
Your child takes a hard hit during a game.
They come off the field and say, “I’m okay.”
The team is losing. There are only a few minutes left. Your child wants back in. Their teammates want them back in. Maybe even the child is frustrated that anyone is making a big deal about it.
That is when adults have to make the harder decision.
A child with a suspected concussion should be removed from play and evaluated appropriately. The CDC says an athlete should not return to sports on the same day a concussion occurs.
That game may feel incredibly important in the moment.
Your child's brain is more important.
Why Going Back Too Soon Matters
The brain needs time to recover after a concussion.
Returning to sports while the brain is still healing creates a greater chance of another concussion. The CDC warns that repeat concussions can be serious and may result in lasting changes in the brain.
This is why return-to-play decisions should not be based on whether a child says, “I feel fine,” or whether an important game is coming up.
Returning to sports should be a medical decision.
The CDC recommends that athletes return only with approval from a healthcare provider and follow a gradual, step-by-step progression back into activity.
Returning to Play Is a Process, Not a Single Decision
Once a healthcare provider determines that a child is ready to begin returning to sports, the CDC recommends a six-step return-to-play progression.
Each step generally takes at least 24 hours, and the athlete should move forward only if symptoms do not return.
The progression gradually moves from normal daily activities to light exercise, moderate activity, heavier non-contact activity, practice, and eventually full competition.
If symptoms return during the process, that is a signal that the child may be pushing too hard.
The activity should stop, and the child's healthcare provider should be contacted.
For parents, the important message is simple:
Recovery is not something to rush.
Two children can experience similar injuries and recover at completely different speeds.
School Matters Too
Parents sometimes focus on when their child can return to the field.
But concussion recovery also involves returning to the classroom.
A concussion can affect concentration, memory, reading, decision-making, energy levels, and a child's ability to tolerate bright lights or noisy environments.
A student who suddenly struggles to finish assignments or pay attention may not be lazy or unmotivated.
Their brain may still be recovering.
The CDC notes that getting children back to school with appropriate support can help recovery, and return-to-school and return-to-sports plans should be coordinated.
Parents should communicate with teachers, school nurses, counselors, coaches, and athletic trainers so everyone understands that the child is recovering from a concussion.
What Parents Should Ask Their Coach
Concussion safety should not begin after an injury.
Parents can ask questions before the season starts.
Consider asking your child's coach or athletic program:
What happens if you suspect a concussion?
Who removes the athlete from play?
Is a certified athletic trainer available?
Who is allowed to clear an athlete to return?
How do you communicate injuries to parents?
Does the team follow a written concussion protocol?
Are coaches trained to recognize concussion symptoms?
The CDC offers concussion training specifically for youth sports coaches to help them recognize possible concussions and understand what steps to take when one occurs.
For Texas school athletics, the University Interscholastic League also maintains a concussion management return-to-play form among its athletics resources.
Parents should feel comfortable asking how their child's program handles head injuries.
That is not being difficult.
That is being involved.
What If Your Child Doesn't Want to Sit Out?
This may be one of the hardest parts.
Young athletes may hide symptoms because they are afraid of losing playing time, disappointing teammates, missing an important game, or losing their position.
That is why parents should establish the rule before an injury ever happens:
Your health comes before the scoreboard.
Tell your child that reporting a headache, dizziness, confusion, or other symptoms is not weakness.
They are not letting the team down by speaking up.
In fact, telling an adult when something feels wrong is exactly what responsible athletes should do.
Coaches and parents can help create a culture where athletes know that being honest about an injury will be respected rather than punished.
Know the Emergency Warning Signs
Most children with concussions recover with appropriate care, but some symptoms following a head injury can indicate a more serious problem.
The CDC advises seeking emergency medical care for concussion danger signs.
These can include worsening neurological symptoms, repeated vomiting, increasing confusion or agitation, unusual behavior, worsening headache, seizure activity, inability to wake or stay awake, weakness or numbness, slurred speech, or loss of consciousness.
Parents should not try to determine the severity of a possible concussion on their own. A healthcare professional should evaluate an athlete when a concussion is suspected.
Recovery Does Not Mean Sitting in a Dark Room for Days
Concussion guidance has also evolved.
The old idea that a child should remain completely inactive in a dark room until every symptom disappears is no longer the general recommendation.
The CDC advises against prolonged isolation or making children stay in bed all day. Light activity, such as short walks, may be appropriate during recovery depending on symptoms and medical guidance.
The key is gradual recovery.
Not doing too much too soon.
But also not unnecessarily isolating a child from school, friends, and normal life.
Protect the Child, Not the Season
Youth sports can create memories children carry for the rest of their lives.
We want those memories to be good ones.
Winning matters to athletes.
Playing time matters.
Making playoffs matters.
But none of those things matter more than protecting a developing brain.
A child should never feel pressure to hide symptoms because adults are worried about the next game.
And no parent should feel embarrassed about saying, “My child is sitting this one out.”
Sometimes protecting a young athlete means cheering from the sidelines.
Sometimes it means asking more questions.
Sometimes it means going to the doctor instead of going back into the game.
And sometimes the strongest thing a child can do is admit that something does not feel right.
A Message to Parents This Fall
As fall sports continue across Cameron and Willacy Counties, take a few minutes to talk with your children before the next practice or game.
Tell them:
If you get hit and something feels wrong, tell someone.
If you feel dizzy, confused, nauseated, unusually tired, or develop a headache, speak up.
If a teammate looks confused or isn't acting normally after a hit, tell an adult.
And most importantly, remind them that no game is worth risking their long-term health.
At CACCWC, we believe awareness gives families another tool to protect children.
Knowing the signs of a concussion, knowing when to ask for help, and knowing when a child should stay out of the game can make a meaningful difference.
Because sometimes the right decision isn't getting a child back in the game as quickly as possible.
It's making sure they're truly ready when they do.
For more information about traumatic brain injury awareness and resources for children and families, visit CACCWC at www.caccwc.org.
This article is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for medical advice. If you suspect a child has suffered a concussion or other head injury, contact a qualified healthcare professional. For severe or worsening symptoms, seek emergency medical care.
Comments