DeGette Pushes for Answers on Youth Sports and Brain Injuries

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO) is at the forefront of a congressional effort to protect young American players of basketball, football and other sports from repetitive brain trauma. Today, she and colleagues on the House Energy and Commerce Committee sent letters to leaders of collegiate and youth athletic organizations asking how they plan to prevent and mitigate these risks.

“While changes at the professional level are important” the letters note, “football organizations across all levels, as appropriate, should consider rules changes and educational outreach to ensure the safety of all athletes and their developing brains. Additionally, we need to ensure that parents have accurate, up-to-date information necessary to make informed decisions about their children’s participation in football and other contact sports.”

Due to drops in participation and increased publicity around the dangers of concussions, youth sports organizations have started making changes to their rules governing player contact. Recent studies suggest that significant brain damage is caused solely by repeated head impacts, or subconcussive events. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the problem is of special concern in youth sports because children and teens may be more vulnerable to brain injuries than adults, and take longer to recover.

Today’s letters went to National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) President Mark Emmert, National Federation of State High School Associations Executive Director Bob Gardner, USA Football Executive Director Scott Hallenbeck and Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc. Executive Director Jon Butler. Among the questions raised: How they are addressing the risks of subconcussive hits to players, and if current rules sufficiently protect players against the long-term effects of such contact.