James Weir knows one of the most difficult tasks as a high school football coach is convincing a player he is too injured to continue competing. It becomes more challenging when dealing with head injuries, as a player often times does not realize the extent of the danger. While Weir and his assistants have always been adament about putting players’ health first, they’ve sometimes had to deal with athletes wanting to return to the game too soon. A bill signed into law by Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon on July 13 should help take the pressure off high school coaches across the state. The movement, known as the “Interscholastic Youth Sports Brain Injury Prevention Act,” outlines several guidelines for athletes suffering from potential head injuries. An athlete suspected of having a concussion must stop play immediately and may not return without written permission from a doctor. Furthermore, the bill calls for schools to take action in educating coaches, athletes and parents about the symptoms and long- term affects of a concussion. “This takes the pressure off us being the bad guy by saying it’s the law,” said Weir. “It makes it easier on the school. We don’t want to take any chances.” Studies indicate the number of emergency room visits related to high school athletes suffering from concussions rose from 7,800 in 1997 to 22,000 in 2007. Weir says the new law won’t necessarily alter÷ the way he handles head injuries, stating that it’s understood within Wright City’s program that a player must sit out until receiving doctor’s clearance to return. “In our case it’s not going to affect anything we do,” said Weir. “They don’t get to return to practice to play until we get a doctor’s note saying it’s okay. The parents all know they have to go to the doctor.” During his eight years as the Wildcats’ head coach, Weir says there have only been three instances in which players were actually diagnosed with a concussion. “We’ve haven’t had anybody miss a game because of it,” said Weir. “They’ve always been on the low end of the scale.” He credits that low number to solid equipment and proper tackling techniques. “I believe we haven’t seen very many (concussions) because of the helmets we use and how we talk to our kids about tackling and keeping their heads out of the way,” said Weir. Weir says Wright City uses helmets made by Schutt and Zenith exclusively, citing the school has had exceptional results with equipment from those companies. “We’ve tried to get them the best helmets we can,” said Weir. “Those are the two best helmets on the market right now.” Weir says mouthpieces are also a vital part of a players’ safety and encourages parents to invest in a reliable for their athlete. Aside from equipment, Warrenton activities director Craig Frazier says the presence of a on-staff trainer has helped prevent athletes in his district from taking any unecessary risks when they are suspected of having an injury. “This is why having a trainer on staff is so valuable in making sure kids are safe,” said Frazier. “The trainer won’t let them go back in if there’s a concern.” Warrenton will be bringing in a new trainer this year, with Brian Hudson making the move from Morehead State University. Hudson says it can be challenging to get an athlete to acknowledge they may be suffering from a concussion. “The hardest part is getting high school athletes to let us know something is wrong,” said Hudson. “Anytime you black out or get dizzy, it’s some grade of concussion. Kids may feel fine and want to go out and compete.” Hudson says many athletes will declare they are fine, maybe stating that they ‘got their bell rung.’ But he says the affects aren’t always immediate and players need to be aware of recurring symptoms. “In some sports, kids get knocked in the head, they get up and they’re fine, but the signs of a concussion can come up later on,” noted Frazier. “The symptoms can range from confusion, loss of memory or balance problems all the way up to an upset stomach,” explained Hudson. “It can be as simple as pupilary action in the eyes.” While concussions are not all that common, the number of sports related head injuries has increased over the past decade. “If I were to experience five or six concussions in one year throughout all the sports, that wouldn’t surprise me,” said Hudson. “I’ve seen four or five on a football team in one season.” The initial hit that brings on the first spell of dizziness or confusion often cannot be prevented, but holding a player out of physical activity until all symptoms have cleared can eliminate long-term complications. That is where this new legislation really comes into play. Warrenton junior T.J. Lafaver says he has suffered concussions in each of the past two seasons, including a more severe one during the fall of his freshman year. He says there wasn’t any question that something was out of the ordinary. “When you have a concussion, your head feels separated from your body,” said Lafaver. “Your body feels really weak. It’s like getting your brain rattled, and you have to give it time to heal.” Lafaver knows he is likely more succeptable to concussions in the future having already dealt with them twice. Frazier says Warrenton has implemented a new baseline impact testing. Each athletes’ normal motor skills will be monitored. If suspected of having a concussion, that individuals’ motor skills will again be tested to gauge for any abnormalities. “It’s a baseline so we can see what’s normal for them,” said Hudson. “We gauge how severe that concussion was.” While football results in more concussions than any other sport, Hudson says some of the less obvious activities can also present the possibility of a concussion. “When cheerleaders fly up there are a lot of hands and elbows in the way,” said Hudson. Soccer, lacrosse and wrestling are also among the top five sports that result in the concussions. The bill was sponsored by Representative Chuck Gatschenberger of Lake Saint Louis and received the support of former Saint Louis Rams’ linebacker Mike Jones. Weir says, he too, is in favor of the new requirements to ensure the safety of student-athletes. “No football game is worth some kid going into adulthood being handicapped,” said Weir. “Most of the time its not the coach trying to get the kid back in, it’s the kid wanting to get back into the game,” said Weir. “As coaches, we’ve got to be the common sense guys.”