Stricter concussion policy needed to protect players

The football team pulled out a tough 40-37 win against Willow Glen on Sept. 20 — their first victory of the season — but it came at a cost. Senior quarterback Jonathan Walters ran headfirst into defenders and was diagnosed with a concussion after the game. Since then, the team had a bye week but this was not sufficient time for Walters to be cleared to play and he had to sit out the Homecoming game, Oct. 4 against Mountain View.

A decade ago, a star player like Walters would have played the next game, but recent awareness of concussions has changed the nature of football — and rightly so.

The safety of athletes at all levels should be the primary concern for teams. A player’s health and livelihood is much more important than a game or even a season.

The issue of safety in sports has been hotly debated, especially in the NFL, where head injuries are common. In recent years, retired players have filed a lawsuit against the league after many retired players suffered brain injuries after their playing careers. Players suspected that the NFL and helmet makers were aware of the dangers of these concussions and brain injuries but did not report them to the players. In the end, the NFL players agreed to a $765 billion settlement.

Concussions are the most common type of traumatic brain injury, but this does not mean they are not severe. A concussion occurs when the head is accelerated, common in football from big hits, and the brain keeps moving while the skull is stopped from the hit. These forces on the brain can cause headaches, sensitivity to sounds and lights and sometimes even memory loss.

If concussions are not properly diagnosed and a player is allowed to play, the player is at risk both during the game and in the future. If a team has confirmed concussion symptoms, the player diagnosed should be declared out for the rest of the game and should see a doctor instead of returning the next day.

Nothing should be put ahead of life or death, especially at the high school level, where athletes are young and have much of their lives ahead of them, player safety and concussion policy should be at the top of the priority list.

It's frustrating to see a star player like Walters unable to play, but it's more important that he and other players have a long-term future free of the horrible side effects that so many former players have suffered.