Concussions

There's a collision of Helmet to Helmet,
followed by a roar or gasp from the crowd,
 as one or both players lay motionless on the ground,
 trainers  rush to either aid or carry the player off the field - and the battle rages on.
     This is professional football in all its glory where players have no qualms about "knocking the living daylights" out of opponents, while fans relish in the excitement - and concussions are seen as a normal consequence.
    Now picture the same scenario … Helmets crashing,
screaming fans, the battle raging, but wait. These aren't  highly paid players. In fact, no one on the field is older than twelve! and the concussions were plenty. Now ask yourself, do you roar, gasp or are you appalled.
    This was the case in a pop Warner league game in Massachusetts between a Southbridge team and the Tantasqua Pee Wees.  The game ended with five concussions, FIVE! … yes,  this is not a typo, according to a Boston Globe report the Pee Wees suffered 5 concussions in a crushing 52 - 0 loss.   
    In a match that Southbridge, dominated, the referees still allowed the carnage to continue and after 1 concussion … 2 concussion … 3 concussions, one has to wonder … Where do we draw the line? Have we become so engrossed in the thrill of victory that we have forgotten - at this age -  the game should just be safe.
    A concussion is a minor traumatic brain injury that can occur when the head hits an object or vice versa. Studies on the long term effects on athletes are currently underway and there is a general consensus that more precautionary actions should be taken.
    Professionals such as Michael Vick and Jay Cutler who were taken out of week 10 NFL games due to concussions, have the finances, support system and specialist to aid in their speedy recovery - Pop Warner football doesn't, and the long or short term impact on a child who suffers such a injury can be devastating.
Memory loss, slurred speech, lack of concentration are just some of the side effects and recovery could take months. Needless to say none of the injured children have returned to football from that unforgettable September game.
    With that said, back to the competition, or should i say … the concussions in Massachusetts, many question come to mind: What kind of referees allow something like this to happen? How much concussions does it take for you to say, Wait! somethings wrong here? and of course the obvious These are KIDS! is it really that serious?
    Pop Warner regulations require officials to invoke some kind of mercy rule when there is a 28 pt gap in the game, but no one threw up the white flag, in fact one concussion came after the play was ruled dead as the game continued with officials, parents, coaches even the association president looking on.
    I guess the high demands of professional football, the dreams of lucrative contracts, the opportunities that are ever so life changing, demands that we "get em ready as soon as we can," and as these little warriors take the field - the idea of fun is the last thing on anyone's mind. Can you picture the half time speech in the Southbridge teams locker room - whose website banner incidentally reads "Are you tough enough" -  "yeah boys we've got em where we want them, now go out there and Finish them!" Well … maybe a little over the top, but you get the gist!
    Ultimately common sense prevailed and after a lengthy hearing by Central Mass Pop Warner the coaches were suspended for the remainder of the season. The association president and his wife also in attendance were placed on probation through 2013 for failure to act, and the three game referees were permanently banned - kudos to Common sense!

SOURCE: http://www.boston.com/sports/football/2012/10/20/one-pop-warner-game-results-five-concussions/nkJydxoAsEGOF0jPjimtWK/story.html