As the high school football season kicks off tonight in southern Illinois, there is a strong emphasis on player safety, especially related to concussions. There is a new state law called the Youth Sports Concussion Safety Act and the IHSA has reduced the amount of time for player contact in practices.
New research into the effects of repeated head impacts on high school football players has shown changes in brain chemistry and metabolism even in players who have not been diagnosed with concussions and suggest the brain may not fully heal during the offseason. The story can be found by clicking here.