Youth Football Tackle Drills and Concussion Risk

September 26, 2016
By Randy Dotinga

Children under the age of 14 who play football are at risk of concussions, and a small study suggests that high-magnitude head impacts are more likely to occur in practices than in games in this age group.

The study also found that one specific type of tackling drill posed the highest risk of head-rattling collisions in these young players.

"High-magnitude head impacts are more likely to result in concussion," said study co-author Steven Rowson, an assistant professor with Virginia Tech's Center for Injury Biomechanics.

It's estimated that up to 3.8 million sports-related concussions occur each year, the study authors said. And, football has been linked to the highest risk of brain injuries in team sports, according to the study.

While most research has focused on high school, college and professional football players, kids 14 and under are estimated to make up 70 percent of all football players in the United States.

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