What Is a Concussion?
A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury—or TBI— caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move quickly back and forth. This fast movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, creating chemical changes in the brain and sometimes stretching and damaging the brain cells.

Talk with your children and teens about concussion. Tell them to report their concussion symptoms to you and their coach right away. Some children and teens think concussions aren’t serious, or worry that if they report a concussion they will lose their position on the team or look weak.

Be sure to remind your children and players that it’s better to miss one game than the whole season. 

Concussion Fact Sheet for Coaches

Concussion Information for Parents

How can I spot a possible concussion?
Athletes who show or report one or more of the signs and symptoms listed below—or who simply say they just “don’t feel right”—after a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body may have a concussion or other serious brain injury. Concussion signs and symptoms often show up soon after the injury, but it can be hard to tell how serious the concussion is at first. Some symptoms may not show up for hours or days.

Signs coaches or parents may observe:
• Seems confused
• Forgets an instruction or is unsure of the game, position, score, or opponent
• Moves clumsily
• Answers questions slowly or repeats questions
• Can’t remember events before or after the hit, bump, or fall
• Loses consciousness (even for a moment)
• Has behavior or personality changes

Symptoms athletes may report:
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness or balance problems
• Bothered by light or noise
• Feeling foggy or groggy
• Trouble concentrating or problems with short- or long-term memory
• Does not “feel right”

Signs of a more serious brain injury In rare cases, a concussion can cause dangerous bleeding in the brain, which puts pressure on the skull.
Call 9-1-1 if an athlete develops one or more of these danger signs after a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body:
• A headache that gets worse and does not go away
• Significant nausea or repeated vomiting
• Unusual behavior, increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation
• Drowsiness or inability to wake up
• Slurred speech, weakness, numbness, or decreased coordination
• Convulsions or seizures (shaking or twitching)
• Loss of consciousness (passing out)

Some athletes may not report a concussion because they don’t think a concussion is serious. They may also worry about:
• Losing their position on the team or losing playing time during a game,
• Putting their future sports career at risk,
• Looking weak,
• Letting down their teammates or the team, and/or
• What their coach or teammates think of them.

What should I do if an athlete has a possible concussion? As a coach, if you think an athlete may have a concussion, you should: Remove the athlete from play.

When in doubt, sit them out!