A concussion is defined as a brain injury that affects the way the brain operates.
It is mostly caused by a jolt or blow that causes the head and brain to move quickly back and forth.
There are around 67 000 concussions per year involving football players which accounts for 47% of cases.
Prevention The environment athletes play in has a large effect on their safety.
- Be aware of conditions that can cause injury like walls, worn out equipment, and slippery floors or ground.
- Players must use all protective equipment for their sport and know how to use them properly.
- All rules must be followed in competition as well as in practice.
- Be aware of "out of control" play where the play is overly physical and in violation of the rules.
- Take head injuries and possible concussions seriously and treat them immediately.
Detection A hard blow to the head is not always the only way to get a concussion.
Depending on the athlete and the type of contact, even an innocent looking fall can cause serious damage to the brain.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends you look for the following signs and symptoms:

• Unusual confusion about how to play
• Disoriented, or dazed
• Loss of memory of plays being used
• Does not know opponent, score or game
• Clumsy movements
• Slow to answers questions
• Loss of consciousness
• Personality change
• Loss of memory of events before or after fall or hit
• Headache
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Cannot balance or dizzy
• Blurry or double vision
• Sensitive to light and/or noise
• Feel sluggish or groggy
• Concentration problems
• Confusion

Responding to Concussions If your athlete displays signs and symptoms as mentioned above, you need to take action immediately.
The CDC recommends:

• Stop the athlete from playing.
  
• Get the athlete to a doctor for evaluation.
  Do not attempt to diagnose a concussion yourself.
  
• Notify parents or guardians about the possibility of a concussion.
  
• Only allow the athlete to play with permission from a doctor capable of evaluating for concussions.
  

Due to the dangers of second impact syndrome, the CDC advises, "Keep athletes with known or suspected concussions from play until they have been evaluated and given permission to return to play by a health care professional with experience in evaluating concussions.
Remind your athletes: 'It's better to miss one game than the whole season.
' http://www.
cdc.
gov/concussion/sports/prevention.
html Recovering from a concussion does not have to take a long time.
Research results in a 2011 study of U.
S.
high schools showed: - 23.
5% were clear of symptoms in less than 24 hours - 33.
8% in 1 - 3 days - 20.
6% in 4 - 6 days - 19.
6 in 1 week - 1 month - 2.
8% in more than 1 month