The New SCAT3 for Concussion Management

Concussions have been a hot topic in the sports medicine world for the last several years. New rules and equipment have been established to help decrease the incidence of this injury in athletes of all types, from contact to non-contact sports; yet concussions are still very common.  According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “during 2001-2005, an estimated 207,830 emergency department (ED) visits for concussions and other traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) related to sports and recreation activities were reported annually, with 65% of TBIs occurring among children aged 5--18 years”.

Athletic Trainers are usually the first on the scene to evaluate an athlete who may have suffered a concussion after a hard blow to his head or body. They must make an accurate and quick decision to let the athlete return-to-play or pull him out of the game. This sometime can be relatively easy to do because symptoms are obvious but oftentimes it can be very puzzling and unclear as to whether the athlete actually has a concussion or not.

Moreover, Athletic Trainers must ensure that the athlete goes through a comprehensive return-to-play protocol. At the 4th International Conference on Concussion in Sport, it was established that “the cornerstone of concussion management is physical and cognitive rest until the acute symptoms resolve and then a graded program of exertion prior to medical clearance and return to play”. Athletic Trainers must then follow a thorough neuropsychological evaluation of the athlete until signs and symptoms disappear completely. The new Sport Concussion Assessment Tool or SCAT3, released early this year, offers a full assessment of the athlete’s brain that can be performed from day one, when the athlete suffered the concussion, all the way throughout his recovery and clearance. Athletic Trainers must be consistent with their concussion management and never let an athlete return to his sport until they are 100% positive that the athlete is ready to go.

Protecting our Youth: Guidelines for Determining Proper Fit in the Football Helmet

With the increase of today’s youth participating in sports, it is important to protect our kids by providing safety equipment that is sized correctly. At the collegiate level there are equipment managers that are very skilled and practiced at properly fitting an athlete’s helmet and other protective gear, but at the secondary and youth level it is up to the coaches, parents and athletic trainers. According to the National Athletic TrainingAssociation Position Statement on Concussion, a helmet that fits properly on a child can help protect against catastrophic head injuries and reduce the severity of cerebral concussions. It also states that all safety equipment should meet the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment or American Society for Testing and Materials Standards.

Guidelines to properly fit a football helmet:

1.      Wet the athlete’s hair.
2.            Take the circumference of the athlete’s head around mid-forehead to occipital protuberance.
3.            Convert measurement with the size chart provided by the brand of the helmet.
4.             Have the athlete place the helmet on their head with the helmet deflated.
5.            Check ear holes for alignment.
6.            Check forehead clearance (2-3 finger width).
7.            Check face mask depth to nose (3 fingers).
8.            Check neck range of motion.
9.             Ensure the occipital protuberance is covered by padding.
10.             Check helmet stability by forward backward motion using the facemask for leverage.
11.             Check helmet stability with side to side motion using facemask as leverage.
12.             Check cheek pads --- change them out if they do not fit properly.
13.       Apply a downward pressure on dome of helmet to ensure no recoil or rebounding upward of the helmet.
14.             Ensure that chin strap is centered and securely fastened/
15.            Re-inflate the helmet properly according to manufacturer’s guidelines.

It is important to provide our youth with properly fitted safety equipment to help reduce the severity of an injury and protect them against injuries that they may sustain during practice and games. 

Why Everyone Should Squat Parallel (or below)

The squat, and all variations of it (ie: front, back, overhead, Bulgarian, step-ups, lunges, etc), is the most effective exercise for improving overall lower body strength. If not performed correctly, the squat loses many of its benefits, such as posterior chain development and injury prevention.

Squatting to parallel, when the top of the thigh (be more specific, the hip crease) is parallel with the ground, is essential in posterior chain development. The glutes and hamstrings are not fully engaged until the athlete attains a parallel position. The glutes play a significant role in hip extension during running and jumping. Not squatting to parallel can place overemphasis on the quads and de-emphasize the role of the hamstrings. Another function of the parallel squat is injury prevention. Squatting to parallel develops the stabilizing muscles of the knee more efficiently, enhancing strength at a greater range of motion and helping to minimize the gap of the quad-to-hamstring strength ratio.

Squatting to parallel also promotes lean body mass gain by creating greater range of motion, thus increasing the motor units and muscles fibers being recruited. A squat to parallel creates greater time under tension, a common tool used by athletes and coaches to elicit hypertrophy, which leads to an overall increase in total work done without altering the rep scheme.

The joint angle created while squatting to parallel also enhances the stretch reflex and connective tissue strength. Squatting to parallel can increase the trainee’s functional flexibility and help the trainee become more comfortable and confident when bending his/her knees as well as maintain optimal hip flexibility, which ultimately may aid in the prevention of many major knee injuries. It is a common mistake to not squat to an appropriate depth in order to increase the weight on the bar.  However, squatting with a limited range of motion will greatly increase the axial load on the spine and will also place much more stress on the knee due to the limited degree of flexion.

According to Jim Wendler, “Squatting isn’t bad for your knees, bad squatting is bad for your knees”. 

Do I Need a Twitter?

K.P. Kelly is a Marketing Consultant and a Social Media Advocate.  He recently shared his thoughts on Twitter and I thought his comments were spot-on.  I hope that you enjoy his post!

I am often asked, “Do I need Twitter.” This is typically asked by people who utilize Facebook but have not yet started to utilize Twitter.  While there are people for whom Twitter would not be either useful or entertaining, for the vast majority of people asking me if they need Twitter, my answer is, YES!

Twitter, to me, is the Mecca of social networking.  Most people copy and share all of their content from other social networks on Twitter.  Twitter is quickly becoming the go-to place for news, entertainments, and online socializing.  To dismiss or ignore Twitter is to make a mistake.

Twitter is vital not just because of the way in which it brings real-time news and information to us, but because it provides an opportunity for you to build the brand of you and to add value to this world on a world-wide scale.  In our modern technological world, everyone has an online identity.  Your online identity exists whether you want it to or not.  Information about you is out there.  Twitter provides an opportunity for you to control the narrative of your online identity and to build your own brand.

When you tweet, you are building your identity.  You are showing people what you are about.  You will probably tweet some jokes. You will tweet news. You will tweet about your day and perhaps about an area of expertise for you.  You are letting the world know who you are, what you are about, and how you can add value.

Building your brand online through Twitter is especially important in today's job market.  Most prospective employers will check your Twitter. If you have a Twitter, you have control of the brand in which they will view.  If you do not have Twitter, they may choose someone that does because they can learn more about that person, or they may dig deeper into the Internet and find a brand of you that you don't want out there, like college drinking photos that you deleted from Facebook but did not realize employers could still find. Don't let that happen to you.  Create a Twitter account and get started tweeting today.

Don't let others dictate the narrative of your brand and your online identity.  Take control by utilizing Twitter to build your own brand.

K.P. Kelly is the Co-Founder and Director of Share4Kids.  The folks at the Kinesiology & Sport Review love the fact that K.P. is also a Marathon Runner, Coffee Addict, and Network-aholic.  You can connect with K.P. on Twitter ... follow him @KP_Kelly .

@Tarleton_KINE

Go the Extra Mile

SNEAK PEEK --- Get ready for an amazing special event hosted by the Tarleton State University Kinesiology Department in Spring 2014.   Please FOLLOW US on Twitter @Tarleton_KINE ... we will be posting more information during the next 6 weeks.  It's going to be an amazing event!

Tarleton State Ranks 4th in Producing Texas High School Football Coaches

In an article published August 7, 2012 on lonestargridiron.com, the question was asked, "Where do all the Texas high school coaches come from?" The author, Chris Doelle, stated that according to the 58th Texas Coaches Directory, published by Western Sports Guides, there were a few surprises.  Sure, everyone expects Baylor, The University of Texas and Texas A&M to have quite a few, but Angelo State? Western New Mexico? Wayland Baptist? And even our very own Tarleton State! 

Here are the top 20 pipelines for Texas high school coaches and the number of active coaches from each:

1-	Angelo State University	93
2-	Stephen F. Austin University	80
3-	Texas Tech University	70
4-	Tarleton State University	58
5-	Western New Mexico University	57
6-	Texas State University – San Marcos	56
7-	Sam Houston State University	49
8-	Sul Ross State University	47
9-	Texas A&M University	46
10-	Eastern New Mexico University	39
11-	West Texas A&M University	35
12-	Baylor University	34
13-	North Texas, University of	33
14-	Texas A&M University-Kingsville	32
15-	Abilene Christian University	29
16-	Wayland Baptist	29
17-	Texas A&M University – Commerce	29
18-	Texas, University of	23
19-	Lamar University	21
20-	Panhandle State University	19

How Far Do Physical Educators Drive Moral Development

As a teacher, many of us believe that we have a calling to change the lives of our students.  As teachers, we can reflect back on our time as students when we had a teacher that impacted our lives. For me as an athlete, my P.E. teachers and coaches had the largest impact on me. This is primarily why I have pursued a career as a coach. I feel that we have the responsibility to develop the character of our students; however, how far we drive a moral code into our students is up for debate. School district administrators develop an ethical code of conduct, which they want their teachers and staff to follow.  I have coached at a private Christian school where the administration voiced a strong desire to build the character of our students. This lines up directly with my personal views. I believe that they most important component of competition is character, and this needs to be taught to our students. I would rather lose the championship game and know that my athletes had character and class, over winning the game without it!

                                          

Physical Education IS the Core of Moral Development

The physical education platform should be used to not only develop an individual’s overall knowledge of living a healthy lifestyle but should also be used to develop moral skills – often overlooked in the overall education process. Ideally, a program such as Character Counts!, could serve as a curriculum within the physical education experience. Character Counts!teaches 6 pillars of character development by supplying educators with appropriate material.

 In my opinion, the ultimate way to develop moral values would be to have a ‘Theme of the Week’ in all levels of physical education classes. The weekly themes would focus on developing one moral aspect at a time. As a physical educator, I have been approached recently about an idea to implement character development video clips through the use of cell phone technology. These daily lessons would enable parents or teachers to elaborate on the development of moral values at home or school. Understanding the way kids relate and learn in today’s world, I perceive this idea to have tremendous potential in moral development during physical education.

Physical Education's Moral Benefits

Physical Education is a perfect way to lead students down the correct moral path. During Physical Education classes students learn how their individual decisions can contribute to their team, which is important for them to be successful in their future endeavors.

Throughout Physical Education classes, students are forced to work together in order to accomplish a goal. Whether it be winning a game or helping get each team member through an obstacle, students are faced with many difficult decisions. Here students must figure out the best way to get through the task, and they each have to ask themselves if they are going to work together in order to help the team or walk down their own path, which will only hurt the team. Students will begin to develop a sense of self awareness and think about how their actions and behaviors are going to affect the rest of their team. In order to be successful in life, students must learn to think less about themselves and more about the success of their team. Physical Education starts to lay this superior moral foundation in each student from a young age.

Moral Education Within Physical Education

Moral Education Within Physical Education

 

The primary purpose of physical education is and should always be moral education. As addressed by Clifford and Feezell¹,when the nature of sport is derived and one becomes a coach, they take on the role of a moral educator. Sport and physical education, while they differ in initial structure and setting, both promote physical activity that provides participants with an opportunity to practice and create good character. Physical education, just like sport, encompasses a variety of physically and mentally demanding activities and exercises that teach people, primarily the youth, to efficiently control their body and mind to accomplish and excel in the instructed activity.

Health benefits aside, P.E. is nothing more than a freely chosen, unnecessary and nonessential activity. It is INTRINSIC; unless physical education is more geared towards installing traits of respect, organization, discipline, cooperation and more. All of these values/virtues fall under the category of moral education, and if moral education continues to be viewed as a nonessential attribute of physical education, society will continue to view physical education as a discipline that the public school system can do without. The primary purpose of physical education is and should continue to be moral education.

 

¹Clifford, C., & Feezell, R. M. (2010). Sport and character: Reclaiming the principles of sportsmanship. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.  

Moral Development should be emphasized in Physical Education

In my opinion, physical education should be an outlet for moral development. During physical education, students learn team work, good sportsmanship, leadership skills, and respect at a young age. From the start, they are taught to treat others how they would like to be treated. The lessons taught are carried over into adulthood. In some cases, I feel that moral development is suppressed and not emphasized enough in physical education. The younger generations are becoming less aware of the benefits of being a leader, respecting one another, and showing good sportsmanship. With that being said, I believe that this is the time more than ever to push moral development in schools.

Moral development should be completed to the furthest extent. Whether it is in classrooms or during a game, teachers should make sure students say thank you, you're welcome, excuse me, sorry, and good game. Emphasize that being a leader is not just about being called team captain.  It is being able to lead your team and be a role model. Team captains should be the most morally sound and show the most respect and sportsmanship.

Physical Education Gives Moral Support

Moral development is a very important aspect of public education. Teachers in public schools have the opportunity to teach good morals to their students each and every day. In fact, Physical Education in public schools provides the perfect opportunity for teaching kids good morals and developing good habits through games, sports, exercise, and various other activities. These all require interaction with other students through competition and play. Kids get to learn how to treat each other with respect, to work together as a team, and to display good sportsmanship. Games and activities that take place in a Physical Education setting seem to be more beneficial for developing good morals. While the classroom setting is a good place to teach respect and other good character traits, the gym can be even more beneficial in simulating everyday life due to its informal setting. Therefore if a child can learn how to properly treat others in an informal place, then will they not be more likely to treat others properly in a formal place, such as a classroom or doctor’s office?

High Minded Success Through Physical Education

High Minded Success Through Physical Education

As a coach I believe Physical Education plays a key role of influencing student’s moral development. From kindergarten through 12^th grade, students have the opportunity to train their mind through leadership, cooperating with others, and accepting responsibility for their own behavior.  Learning moral development through physical education can also help students in society develop proper attitudes and behaviors towards other people, which will help as students’ progress through their lives.  One thing that I have seen more and more as a coach today is that students seem to learn morality better when they are in groups, and what better way to teach it then by teaching them in physical education classes.  Some people may think that physical education only develops students’ skill levels, but when you look at the overall picture, it truly helps develop character. 

Physical Education should not be a crutch for moral development. Physical Education should be a driven factor in moral education. Through physical education, coaches are able to teach students the basic right from wrong, which has a huge impact on their lives. Students should develop good behavior, leadership, and character over time, which should lead to great communication skills and a life time of success.

Implementing Moral Lessons in Physical Education Curriculum

Physical education should focus on developing moral behavior, just as it focuses on developing health related components of fitness. A few of the many character traits learned through physical education include discipline, teamwork, dedication, and communication. All of these character traits are related to an individual’s morals and will affect them in different aspects throughout the lifespan. Individuals need to have strong morals in order to live healthy, happy lives and be functional in society.

Beginning in elementary school, children participate in P.E. games and sports in which they learn valuable skills that will help them transition into being proper citizens. If a physical educator fails to instill values of fairness, or does not enforce sportsmanship, the children are not getting the moral lessons they need. Due to the importance of physical activity for health, the physical educators do not need to set time to separately study moral related skills. However, these morals should be taught as part of the lessons of learning the rules of the games, or sport skills. It would be irresponsible of the physical educator if they left out this necessary component of physical education. 

Morale development in physical education

Physical education is ever increasingly becoming a thing of the past as schools around the country continue to cut P.E. to try to save money. I believe that P.E. should be kept in schools.

It is a huge part of helping kids mature, not only physically, but mentally as well.

Physical education teaches kids the basic skills for many team sports that later help them to learn concepts such as teamwork, responsibility, accountability and other things that can help that kid feel better about themselves.

Physical education should also be used in as many ways as possible to ensure that kids can develop a healthy morale.

Teaching kids to be confident in their self and they’re abilities, not only in sport related activities, but also in life as a person who can contribute to society is essential in setting that child up for success.

Developing a child’s morale at a young age will help them make smarter judgment in a situation that deals with ethics, learn to take orders from a superior or future boss and give them an intrinsic motivation to contribute in group settings.

Having a strong developed morale is key to success later on in life and I feel that PE is a great platform to develop this part of our psyche at a young age rather than trying to develop this later in life and relearn life long habits that have already been established.

Physical Education role in Moral Development

Physical Education is an educational course related to the physique of the human body, and promotes psychomotor learning in a play or movement examination setting to encourage health. So why would the moral development of the students not be included in this aspect? When trying to advance a healthy lifestyle, one must look at all angles. Moral development focuses on the emergence, change, and understanding of morality from infancy through adulthood. When creating a healthy lifestyle, it starts young. You do not want to be rearranging bad habits in adulthood when you could have established good habits. Moral development should be included somewhat during Physical Education. It will help understand the essentials of having healthy life skills. 

The Virtue of Physical Education

Moral education for an adolescent is undoubtedly the most important education one can receive. More than any specific academic subject he will encounter, a student will be most affected throughout life by the moral compass that he has developed as a young person. The classic virtues of discipline, teamwork, and respect are not instinctual but are learned each day via practice. With that being said, every educator is responsible for implementing moral development and enrichment into their curriculum.  

 

The setting of physical education allows for a unique opportunity to develop moral character. Outside the confines of a normal classroom, students operate in a different laboratory for the application of skills learned. Physical education, whether centered around games and activities, the learning of new physical skills, or team sports, highlights some of the most important components of moral education—discipline, respect, fairness, cooperation, and more.

 

Physical education serves the increasingly important role of instilling the habits of physical activity in the routines of young people. Physical activity is directly connected to moral education through a variety of emotional and psychological benefits that promote healthy lifestyles. Not only does physical education have the inevitable role of creating healthier adults, but its duty also consists of facilitating a positive and continued avenue to teach morals to today’s youth.