Audrey Williams
Online Sports Editor
According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, more than 62,000 concussions are reported in high school athletics each year. With this rising number, Mira Costa is doing its duty to research its own athletes’ health and prevent further injury.
This year, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) selected Mira Costa’s football team in addition to three other schools, Serra, Foothill and Tustin, to perform a neurological test due to the football team’s high number of concussions in comparison to other Costa contact sports, including every Costa sport except golf.
“These tests will further advance the security of football players,” sophomore safety Spencer Gilbert said. “By taking these tests, Costa gains the ability to prevent other athletes from serious injuries.”
Costa’s football team was sent to the math and science building where they took neurological exams provided by UCLA Health. The athletes were given various memorization activities, such as memorizing an order of various colors and recognizing different patterns and shapes, along with different breathing exercises.
“The test is a better way for us to know where our heads are at” junior quarterback David Arrendondo said. “It also is going to help us to understand what is going on before and after the season.”
Other contact sports will not be taking this neurological exam due to the lower number of concussions in comparison to football. However, these sports will be taking the Standardized Assessment of Concussions (SAC), a written test that asks questions to assess whether or not the person has a concussion.
“I think these tests are useful to athletes at Costa because it is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to concussions and mental health,” sophomore soccer player Katharine Rogerson said.
According to the athletic trainer Tim Cooper, it is only required for the athletes to take the SAC every other year, but Cooper prefers Costa athletes to take it once each year.
“Although it is a hassle to get the paperwork together, I would rather the test be taken once a year because it opens up the door for me to get to know the athletes better,” Cooper said.
Costa’s concussion policy requires that all athletes that are diagnosed with a concussion are to sit out until they have had an individual exam or evaluation from a licensed health care provider. They also must not show anymore of the symptoms before playing, such as memory problems, confusion, drowsiness, nausea, blurred vision, or frequent headaches.
“After my recent experience with a concussion, my doctor told me I had to sit out for three weeks,” sophomore junior varisty player Matthew Crowder said. “I have had previous concussions and if I get another one, I will not be allowed to play anymore. Hopefully with this test, this will not be a problem with other Costa athletes.”
According to Headcase, an organization focused on educating parents and teens about brain health in athletics, one of five high school athletes will experience a sports related concussion and 47% of all sports related concussions are in high school football.
“Concussions affected Costa’s teams in the past because a lot of kids had to miss a couple weeks due to concussions,” junior outside linebacker Jordan Fischer said. “That really hurts the team because they were mostly starters and now the second string players who weren’t as good had to play.”
Concussions, otherwise known as TBI or traumatic brain injury, are injuries within the brain when a blood vessel or nerve cells become torn or damaged. If ignored, a TBI can cause permanent speaking, learning or movement problems in the future.
“Returning too soon from a concussive injury increases the risk of injury overall,” Jason Hove of MD Family Medicine at UCLA Health Redondo Beach said. “It increases the risk of a second and likely more severe concussion requiring an even longer period of recovery.”
After a player on the football team is diagnosed with a concussion through the neurological exam, they will be required to take the exam until they attain a proper score and are cleared to play by a doctor.
“I think this test affects Costa athletics in a positive way,” Cooper said. “We are using all of our resources to make sure our athletics are as safe as possible and players do not return to the field too soon.”
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