—
A strict new Indiana law that requires increased medical clearance and involvement of parents in student athlete concussion recoveries is a needed step in ensuring the long-term health of our state’s youth.
Beginning today, parents must be informed of concussion symptoms and the risks of ignoring those symptoms when their child has a suspected head injury. In addition, a licensed health care provider trained in treating head injuries will be required to clear an injured athlete before they can return to practice or competitions.
These two requirements will go a long way in making sure a student athlete simply doesn’t try to tough out an injury and rejoin competition because of their desire to compete or due to peer pressure or because of the urging by a coach.
We believe those scenarios are pretty rare in the Goshen area. Local coaches in an article on today’s sports pages point out that they try to treat their athletes as if they were their own children. This means they are very cautious about head injuries.
Still, head injuries are often hard to diagnose and only a physician trained in those injuries should have the final say on if, and when, an athlete should return to the field, court or diamond.
Participation in high school sports is a wonderful experience for young Hoosiers. Students learn to strive for excellence under stressful conditions. They also learn to get along with their teammates and coaches and many come to the realization that the older and wiser coach is right. These experiences transfer very well to life outside of sports and many successful Americans have cited their early sports experiences as preparing them for life beyond competition.
But those experiences should not be infringed by repeated concussions, which medical experts say have long-term, life-changing and debilitating impacts on the health of athletes. The NFL is now dealing with a lawsuit by former players who say their health has been negatively impacted because they were never told of threats concussions pose to them.
Fortunately for Indiana high school athletes, these new rules will give them and their parents lots of information about concussions. They can then use that information to decide if they want to continue to compete or call it quits to protect their health.
We are grateful that the state’s legislators used good foresight in drafting this new law and fulfilled their duty to protect Indiana’s young people.
Opinion
Concussion law needed to keep students safe
- Opinion
-
-
Council makes a smart move on tax breaks
The Goshen City Council’s adoption of a tax phase-in policy for local governments will help bring uniformity to a competitive process that has pitted local governments against each other.
-
Like it or not, Sheriff is going to speak freely
Elkhart County Sheriff Brad Rogers has taken heat the past couple weeks after he commented during a political rally in downtown South Bend that he would not enforce proposed future gun-control legislation within his jurisdiction.
-
Goshen neighborhood stands together on north side
Sometimes a news photographer is at the optimum location at exactly the right time. Goshen News staffer Sam Householder was in such a spot Wednesday.
-
We just can’t thank our moms enough
The purpose of this editorial is quite simple. We just want to say, “Thanks, mom.” And by “mom” we mean all of the great mothers in our community who have gone above and beyond to lead the way in the development of their children.
-
Letter carriers help to Stamp Out Hunger
There’s still time to help someone you probably don’t know.
-
Farmers are positive this will be the year
Farmers and Cub fans have something in common. They are eternally positive and expect a better season next year.
-
It's time to spruce up the Maple City
This is the season and today is the day, finally.
-
Smooth sailing for this year’s regular session
The final gavel has fallen on the 2013 regular session of Indiana’s General Assembly. During the 14-week session, our lawmakers passed nearly 300 pieces of legislation, including the state’s $30 billion biennial budget that contains the largest tax cut in state history.
-
Palm Sunday tornadoes a reminder of sudden danger
It was a beautiful day, most people around these parts who can remember will tell you. It was one of those near-perfect, early spring days, they would likely say, a stark contrast to what early evening would bring on April 11, 1965.
Yes, the Palm Sunday tornado outbreak of 1965, is still very vivid in our local history five decades later. Those were days before Doppler Radar, 24-7 cable television, countywide siren warning systems and even seatbelts in most cars. So, when afternoon turned to early evening, many local residents had little or no warning that killer tornadoes were nearly on top of them. -
Graduation is always a great achievement
While many of us have been waiting patiently – some not so patiently – for spring to finally show up in Northern Indiana, students throughout the area have been busy working on term papers, taking tests and ordering caps and gowns.
- More Opinion Headlines
-
Council makes a smart move on tax breaks
Sheriff: No Sign Killing of 2 Kids Was Planned
Obama Defends Drone Strikes, With Limits
Raw: Jurors Deadlock on Jodi Arias Penalty
Boy Scouts Decision "First Step" Say Activists
Raw: Utah Teen Arrested in Death of His Brothers
Closer Look at Okla. School Where Children Died
Two Suspects in Murder Known to London Police
Boy Scouts Mom Supports Gay Inclusiveness
"Be Ready": NOAA Warns of Busy Hurricane Season
SeaWorld: Penguins Are Coolest Thing in Florida
Obama Renews Call to Close Gitmo
Obama Offers Drone Strike Defense
Raw: Heckler Interrupts Obama on Guantanamo
A Slice of Apple History Up for Grabs
