Risks of Brain Injury in Young Football Players
Youth football has grown in popularity within the past several years. Children as young as 8 years old have played in football games for schools. High school football has been common for decades. What many people know less about is how multiple concussions during football can add up after a while. Some cases of multiple concussions have been tied with brain injuries.
This is why new laws for school districts have been put in place to protect younger football players from continuing until their concussion heals. Consider talking to a Central New York Personal Injury Attorney if your child has suffered significant personal injuries after the school failed to uphold these laws.
Brain Injuries in Youth Football
As many as 8% of children between the ages of 9 and 12 were shown to have experienced high-magnitude head impacts during football. Playing football before the age of 12 is considered more dangerous because those who suffer head injuries before this age are twice as likely to experience problems with behavior and mood as they grow older. This may be because the brain is still developing until early adulthood.
Concussions are the most common head injury from playing football. Multiple concussions or continuing 
to play football after experiencing a concussion can worsen the symptoms and may cause further damage. Common signs and symptoms to look out for when it comes to concussions include:
- Problems with memory
- Headache
- Loss of consciousness
- Disorientation (not knowing your name, where you are, what day it is, etc.)
- Fogginess in cognition (difficulty with focusing on things around you, concentration impairment, low energy, slower learning and decision-making skills)
Multiple concussions have been linked to anxiety, depression, memory loss, impaired judgment, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and heightened aggression.
When Youth Football is Negligent
Some examples of negligent when it comes to youth football would be a coach or school staff member failing to check on an injured player, sending a player back into the game despite signs of a concussion, or attempting to hide signs of a concussion from others. Laws regarding football negligence fall under state concussion protocol laws.
One of these laws requires a student to be removed from a football game if a concussion has been sustained. This student is not allowed to return to playing football until after a visit to the doctor and proper treatment. Parents must be informed about the risk of concussions during football and must be informed if their child received a concussion during football.
Personal Injury Lawyer in New York
Dealing with permanent changes in your child after a series of concussions can be difficult to handle. If you suspect your child has suffered multiple concussions without you being informed by the school, consider hiring a Syracuse Personal Injury Lawyer who can help you build a strong defense for compensation. You should also consider hiring a lawyer if a coach told your child to continue playing despite signs of a concussion.
At Gattuso & Ciotoli, we have years of experience with personal injury claims. Contact us at (315) 314-8000 for a free consultation today. You can find us in Central New York, Syracuse, Watertown, Binghamton, Syracuse, North Syracuse, Camillus, Liverpool, Cortland, and Auburn.