Stop the Stigma Around Head Injuries

How to encourage young athletes to talk about head injuries

It’s not easy to pull a young athlete out of a game. Even when they have a serious injury, the biggest concern of many competitive athletes is getting back on the field or in the arena as soon as possible—mostly because they don’t want to let their teammates down. Unfortunately, this is exactly why some young athletes won’t speak up when they are hurt. This is especially the case with concussions, because unlike a broken arm or twisted ankle, the injury tends to be less visible to the naked eye. Here are some ways to encourage young athletes to have an open dialogue about head injuries.