Heads Up Concussion Training
29 community-sourced questions and answers. Free — no login.
Concussions
Happen most often in sports as a result of a collision between athletes.
Which of the answers below is a common symptom of concussion:
Headache
Most athletes with a concussion no longer have symptoms from the injury:
Within a couple of weeks
Following a concussion:
An athlete may feel frustrated, sad, angry, or lonely.
Subconcussive head impacts:
Can be reduced by limiting collisions on the sports field.
Consider the following scenario: It is the last quarter of the championship game. Your best athlete is knocked down, and you think she may have hit her head. She continues playing, but you notice that she is not acting right. You call a time-out to talk to her. She says she is fine, and wants to keep playing. What should happen next?
Require her to sit out for the rest of the day.
Consider the following scenario: One of your athletes has been working on his return to play progression over the last 3 weeks. During practice today, you have him work on step 3 of the progression. However, you notice that he starts to look a little off. What should happen next?
Have him take a break and let him know that at the next practice (in 3 days) he should go back to step 2 as long as he feels ok.
Consider the following scenario: After running into another athlete and hitting her head, you notice that one of your athletes looks dazed. You ask the sports official to pause the competition so you can talk to her. She says she feels sick to her stomach, and then blacks out (loses consciousness). What should happen next?
Immediately rush her to a hospital or emergency room.
A concussion can be a result of
a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body
A concussion
creates chemical changes in the brain and sometimes leads to stretching and damaging of brain cells
Why should coaches learn about concussions
1. Children are at higher risk 2. A concussion can lead to serious health problems 3. Coaches are often the only adult on hand to spot a concussion and take action.
How likely?
2.5 million students have reported a concussion in the past year.
Signs are
Behaviors and Actions we see
Symptoms are
What the injured athlete feels
Concussion Action Plan
Step 1: Remove the athlete from play (When in doubt, sit them out) Step 2: Inform the athlete's parents Step 3: Ensure the athlete is evaluated by a healthcare provider Step 4: Ask for return to play instructions from the healthcare provider.
A repeat concussion that occurs before the brain had a chance to recover from the first one can:
1. Make symptoms worse 2. Lead to a longer recovery 3. Increase the risk for long-term symptoms 4. Possibly lead to death
Why is it important to closely watch an athlete after a possible concussion important?
1. Concussion signs and symptoms can change and get worse quickly.
Concussion signs and symptoms that indicate a medical EMERGENCY
*Loss of consciousness (even brief) *Convulsions and or seizures *A headache that gets worse and does not go away *Unusual behavior, increased confusion, restlessness, and agitation. *Increased drowsiness, or inability to stay awake or wake up *Significant nausea or persistent vomiting
Signs include
1. Appears dazed or stunned 2. Confusion about assignment or position 3. Forgetfulness 4. Uncertainty about game, score, or opponents 5. Clumsy movements 6. Slow response to questions 7. Mood, behavior, and or personality changes 8. Inability to recall events prior to the hit or fall 9. Inability to recall events after the hit or fall
Symptoms include:
1. Headache or pressure in the head 2. nausea or vomiting 3. Balance problems or dizziness 4. Double or blurry vision 5. Bothered by light or noise 6. Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy. 7. Concentration or memory problems 8. Confusion 9. Emotions of not feeling right or feeling down
Returning back to play
Most athletes feel better within a couple of weeks. For some athletes, symptoms may last for several months.
Factors that can delay recovery may include
*Severe symptoms right after injury *History of migraines *History of anxiety or depression *Learning disabilities and ADHD
Symptoms that last more than 4-6weeks
require additional healthcare attention
How can I help an athlete return to play safely?
1. Complete a return to regular non-sports activity process For most athletes this includes resting for 1-3 days after the incident. This DOES NOT mean keeping an athlete all day in a dark room.
Changes to school routine
1. Going to school half days 2. Taking short naps or resting at school 3. Allowing extended time to complete assignments and tests
6 steps
1. Back to regular non-sport actives 2. Light aerobic exercise ~increase heart rate 3. Sports-specific exercise ~Add more body movement 4. Non-contact training drills ~excercise, coordination, and increased thinking 5. Practice and full-contact activity ~Restore confidence, allow for examination by coaching staff 6. Back to competition At least 24hrs or longer between each step
Multiple concussions can lead to
more severs symptoms and a longer recovery
what are sub-concussive head impacts?
They are bumps, hits, or jolts to the head that DO NOT cause symptoms.
What is CTE?
chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a brain disease that can only be diagnosed after death. It is a result of changes to the brain.
Looking for a different version?
CBTs get updated every year. Search for the exact version you're taking (e.g. "cyber awareness 2025").
Search all study materials