Healthy Kids: New rule on full contact sports

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FORT MYERS, Fla. – The American Academy of Pediatrics held their annual meeting earlier this month and children and adolescents and sports-related injuries were on the agenda to be discussed. Dr. Annette St. Pierre-MacKoul discuss this and more with us.

New rule that limits tackling during football practices knocks down concussions:
  • Limiting ‘full-contact tackling’ during football practices.
  • Results in big reduction in the number of concussions among players.
  • Studies showed sports-related concussions during practices were significant.
  • Two seasons prior to the rule change had 2x as high as previous years.
  • H.S. Coaches agree and think it will apply to sprains, fractures and dislocations.
New Rule:
  • Took effect in 2014.
  • Prohibits full contact during the 1st week of practice.
  • Limits full contact to 75 minutes per week during week 2.
  • Full contact limited to 60 minutes thereafter.
  • Full contact = drills or game situations with full tackles
Results:
  • 16,000 participants in 103 schools in Wisconsin.
  • AAP recommends following the limitation rules.
  • Safer H.S. Sports Programs.
AAP call for improved safety measures for tackling in youth football:
  • 250,000 children and adolescents were treated in the ER in 2009.
  • Diagnoses: concussion, traumatic brain injury or sports-related injuries.
  • 30 million children will participate in sports this year.
  • 28% of children ages 5-14 will play football.
  • 1.1 million H.S. football players in the U.S.
  • Concern:  CTE – Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy
AAP’s Recommendations:
  • Zero tolerance to illegal tackling.
  • No ‘head-first’ tackling.
  • No ‘illegal hits.’
  • No ‘spear tackling.’
  • Delaying the age at which tackling is introduced.
Basketball, soccer, lacrosse lead to most ACL injuries among H.S. female athletes:
  • Females > males
  • Girls: Soccer > basketball > lacrosse
  • Boys: Football > lacrosse > soccer
  • Proper training and coaching needs to occur.

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