Don Ketchum
Former Staff Writer, AZPreps365.com

Bill to protect athletes from head injuries is smart choice

February 7, 2011 by Don Ketchum, AZPreps365


There’s no need for a filibuster on this issue.
Arizona’s young athletes should be protected from the potentially serious aftereffects that a head injury can cause.
Arizona Senate Bill 1521, which was due to be introduced at the State Capitol on Monday (Feb. 7), would require any minor who suffers a concussion in competition or practice to be immediately removed from that activity until cleared by medical personnel.
If a member of your family has suffered such an injury or you have a friend/teammate affected for the rest of their life as I have, this issue hits very close to home.
We want our athletes, be it high school or youth sports even before high school, to have another chance to play, another chance to operate in a normal manner. Let’s not ruin that by sending them back into competition when they are not ready.