Posted May 9, 2013
Pop Warner to Co-Sponsor 7th Annual National Summit on Sports Concussion in AtlantaPop Warner continues its proactive concussion awareness initiative in collaboration with the Sports Concussion Institute
By Pop Warner National Staff
May 8, 2013
Atlanta, GA – Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc., the nation’s largest and oldest youth football, cheer and dance organization will co-sponsor the 7th Annual National Summit on Sports Concussion at the JW Marriot in Atlanta on Friday, May 10th. The event is hosted by The Sports Concussion Institute.
The summit will feature medical professionals who specialize in neuroscience and sports medicine, including summit co-chairs Julian Bailes, MD and Jeffrey Hopp, ATC, LAT.
Dr. Bailes is Chairman of both the Department of Neurosurgery at NorthShore Hospital System and the Pop Warner Medical Advisory Board.
Pop Warner’s co-sponsorship of the summit is part of an ongoing initiative to educate its coaches and young athletes on the best practices to reduce the risk of concussions.
In 2010, Pop Warner was the first organization to institute a concussion rule that mandates that only a qualified medical professional can decide when an athlete can return to play after suffering a head injury. The rule mirrors Washington State’s Lystedt Law and states that any participant removed from practice, play or competition due to a head injury or suspected concussion may only return to the field once he or she has received written clearance from a licensed medical professional trained in the evaluation and management of concussions. It removes the parent and the coach from making the decision.
Last year, Pop Warner further elevated its leading approach to player safety when it became the first youth sports organization to limit contact in practice.
“We wanted to be a part of this national summit to understand new evidence-based research on the concussion topic and continue our proactive safety efforts,” said Jon Butler, Executive Director, Pop Warner Little Scholars.
“Protecting our young athletes is our number one priority and we will continue to be on the forefront of the issue by keeping up to date on new findings and being part of the concussion conversation. We are excited to join with other leading sports organizations also committed to ensuring our kids have the opportunity to enjoy sports in a safe environment.”
Pop Warner created the Medical Advisory Board in 2010 to ensure that the organization stays at the forefront of new health and safety issues and any medical developments that may affect its young athletes. The Pop Warner Medical Advisory Board is led by physicians with expertise in neurological sports medicine and follows guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), National High School Federation and the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA).
About the Sports Concussion Institute:
The Sports Concussion Institute (SCI) was established in 2005 by Founder and CEO Dr. Tony L. Strickland to provide state-of-the-art assessment, treatment, and prevention services to: 1) Address the comprehensive concussion care needs of athletes of all ages playing high velocity sports; and 2) Provide specialized neurobehavioral care to people with closed head injuries, acute and chronic pain, balance disorders, and memory and learning disorders. www.concussiontreatment.com
