Concussion in Youth Football: What We Know, What We Can Do, and How to Protect Young Athletes
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This webinar was recorded live through a collaboration with the Brain Injury Association of America.
Abstract:
Concussion is one of the most common injuries in youth football, yet it is often misunderstood, underreported, and inadequately managed. Young athletes’ developing brains may be especially vulnerable to the short- and long-term effects of concussion, making education and prevention critical. In this webinar, hosted by the Brain Injury Association of America and the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, in collaboration with experts from Indiana University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, participants will explore the current science of concussion in youth football. Drs. Dana Waltzman and Johna Register-Mihalik will cover risk factors, signs and symptoms, recovery considerations, and evidence-based strategies to reduce injury and support safe return to play and learning. The session will also address the role of parents, coaches, schools, and healthcare providers in creating safer environments for young athletes.
Learning Objectives:
- Explain what a concussion is and how it affects the developing brain in children and adolescents
- Recognize common signs and symptoms of concussion in youth athletes and understand why injuries are often missed or underreported
- Identify key risk factors for concussion in youth football, including age, play style, and exposure Describe best practices for concussion management, including removal from play, recovery, and return-to-play and return-to-school considerations
- Apply practical, evidence-informed strategies that families, coaches, and communities can use to help prevent concussion and promote brain health in youth sports
Level:
Essential
Domain(s):
Domain 1: Risk Reduction Wellness and Health Literacy
Domain 2: Assessment Evaluation and Diagnosis
Domain 3: Critical Incident Management
Orthopedic Domain(s):
N/A
CEUs:
1.0 Category A
Keywords:
Concussion, Youth Football Safety, Brain Health, Return-to-Play Protocols, Sports Injury Prevention
Enhanced Access On-Demand Course Expiration:
Access to this course will expire at the end of the membership year on December 31 at 11:59 p.m. CST.
For full details, refer to the Expiration Date Policy on our FAQ page.
Johna Register-Mihalik, PhD, LAT, ATC, FACSM, FNATA
Dr. Johna Register-Mihalik is the Associate Chair for Curricula and Faculty Affairs and an Associate Professor in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is also a core faculty member in the Matthew Gfeller Center and serves as the Co-Director of the STAR Heel Performance Laboratory and Traumatic Division Director for the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research.
Her primary research work is based in her background as an Athletic Trainer and centers on novel behavioral and clinical interventions to improve concussion care across the lifespan. She has been the recipient of several research grants to pursue this line of work including funding from the Department of Defense, the Centers for Disease Control, and several foundations. Dr. Register-Mihalik is also an active member of many professional organizations including the National Athletic Trainers' Association and the American College of Sports Medicine and is a Fellow in both organizations.
Dana Waltzman, PhD
Dana Waltzman, PhD, is an Associate Research Professor and Research Director within the Indiana University School of Medicine’s Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. She received her PhD in Psychology specializing in Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of California, Los Angeles. She completed two post-doctoral fellowships at the Memory and Aging Center at the University of California, San Francisco and a joint fellowship at Stanford University and the Department of Veterans Affairs, Palo Alto. Her previous role was as a Behavioral Scientist on the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) team at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Waltzman’s research focuses on leveraging epidemiology, statistical, and data science methods to improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations. She has expertise in analyzing surveillance, clinical, and observational research data to identify risk factors, reduce adverse outcomes, and inform evidence-based interventions.
Dr. Waltzman has authored more than 60 peer-reviewed publications and has received several awards acknowledging her contributions, including the 2018 and 2019 Excellence in Public Health Protection CDC Award, the 2021 CDC Honor Award for Health Equity, the 2021 CDC Honor Award for Excellence in Epidemiology, and the 2024 Global Neurosurgery Paper of the Year Award for a firearm-related TBI manuscript from the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.