Concussion Safety

What is a Concussion?

A concussion is a brain injury that cannot be seen on x-rays, CT scans, or MRIs. It affects the way your child may think and remember things, and can cause a variety of symptoms.

What are the Symptom and Signs?

It is important to know that your child does not need to be knocked out (lose consciousness) to have had a concussion. A variety of problems may happen after a concussion, including:

Thinking Problems

•  Does not know time, date, place, period of game, score of opposing team, score of game
•  General confusion
•  Cannot remember things that happened before and after the injury
•  Knocked out

Athlete's Complaints

•  Headache
•  Dizziness
•  Feels dazed
•  Feels “dinged” or stunned; “having my bell rung”
•  Sees stars, flashing lights
•  Ringing in the ears
•  Sleepiness
•  Loss of vision
•  Sees double or blurry
•  Stomachache/stomach pain, nausea

Other Problems

•  Poor coordination or balance
•  Blank stare/glassy eyed
•  Vomiting
•  Slurred speech
•  Slow to answer questions or follow directions
•  Easily distracted
•  Poor concentration
•  Strange or inappropriate emotions (i.e. laughing, crying, getting mad easily)
•  Not playing as well

What Causes a Concussion?

Any blow to the head, face or neck, or a blow to the body which causes a sudden jarring of the head may cause a concussion (i.e. a helmet to the head, being knocked to the ground).

Eagles Concussion Prevention

We are all aware of how positive the game of football can be for our youth. As with any sport, it is incumbent on us as an organization to teach young athletes how to play safely. That is why we participate in Football Canada's Safe Contact program.

What is Safe Contact?

Safe Contact is a national football program that teaches Safe Tackling and Safe Blocking techniques along with safety education and awareness. Every football player is taught and has to perform the football fundamentals taught in Safe Contact, regardless of what position they play on the field.

Safe Tackling

The Safe Tackling technique creates fundamentally sound tacklers which is a critical element of football. This technique emphasizes making contact with the chest and front shoulder while the primary technique taught in Safe Contact carries over to all situational tackles. The technique also increases defensive turnovers.
This technique teaches tacklers to keep their head up and initiate contact using the chest and front of the shoulder pads. It emphasizes using the hips and hands to generate power through the tackle. The posture as well as angle of the ball carrier will determine which approach the tackler takes towards the ball carrier.

Safe Blocking

Safe Blocking technique emphasizes making primary contact with the hands. This technique creates fundamentally sound blockers which is a critical element of football. The primary blocking technique taught in Safe Contact carries over to all situational blocking. The technique also carries over to all positions.
This technique teaches blockers to keep their head up and initiate contact during blocks using their hands. It emphasizes using the hips and hands to generate power through the block. The posture as well as angle of the tackler will determine which approach the blocker takes towards the tackler.

Making Head Way

Concussion e-learning series.
C/O Coach.ca

Concussion Guidelines

For guardians and caregivers.
C/O Parachute Canada.

Concussion Recognition Tool

To help identify concussion in children, youth and adults.
C/O Concussion in Sport Group

Return to Play Guidelines

Returning to normal activities, including sport participation, is a step-wise process that requires patience, attention and caution.
C/O Think First Canada Concussion