Concussion prevention and the implications for training are continually evolving
A recent post in sportsmedresearch grabbed my interest
The most striking part was tha 43% of concussions were on a play with illegal contact with a penalty. I agree with this data from my hockey coverage experience, when games get chippy or officials fail to take control of the game, preventable injuries happen. Improved officiating and regulation of dangerous playing style is part of the solution, along with preparing athletes for the physical aspect of the game through better form and behavior.
This study from the Journal of Athletic Training looked at variations in training for american football. By utilizing helmetless tackling training, they were able to decrease the amount of impacts per athlete exposure in a collegiate setting. This also emphasizes the behavioral aspect of sport and risk taking when the false sense of security from protective gear is taken away.
