Korrio and Axon Sports Youth Soccer Coaches Concussion Awareness Survey 2012

Korrio, developer of a next generation sports automation platform, and Axon Sports, provider of the Computerized Cognitive Assessment Tool (CCAT), recently conducted the inaugural Korrio and Axon Sports Youth Soccer Coaches Concussion Awareness Survey aimed at gaining valuable insights into the level of concussion awareness and training among youth soccer coaches in the United States. The survey focused on coaches awareness of concussions, organizational protocols for dealing with concussions, concussion management training and education, awareness of baseline testing, the current use and integration of baseline testing in concussion management programs and parental education. More than 250 youth soccer coaches from around the country participated in the online survey, which was conducted from November 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011. Concussion Awareness High Amongst Coaches; Knowledge Gaps Remain Survey results revealed interesting trends in and issues facing concussion awareness and management in youth soccer. The positive news is the high level of concussion awareness reported by the coaches. But while the numbers are encouraging, there clearly remains a significant number of coaches in the minority who lack understanding about the issue, have not received any training nor have implemented any concussion management protocols for their team or league according to the survey: 1 in 4 coaches have little to no understanding of concussions Nearly 1 in 5 soccer programs do not have any kind of concussion-related sideline protocols More than 25 percent of coaches indicated they have not received training to identify signs and symptoms of a concussion More than 33 percent of coaches have not implemented any sideline protocols for dealing with head injuries nor have any concussion management protocols in place

The survey results showed a need for more education amongst coaches about concussion management best practices for their teams including baseline testing. Forty-nine percent of the responding coaches were not familiar with baseline testing for concussion management Only 20 percent of coaches polled have personally recommended baseline testing to players or parents Eighty-four percent of the coaches responded that their league, club or team does not recommend baseline testing as a concussion management tool

With baseline testing becoming an industry standard tool for concussion management programs, this lack of awareness among coaches raises further concern and indicates more steps are needed to increase awareness in order to broaden adoption for concussion management and baseline testing across the entire youth soccer community. The trends and issues identified in the Korrio and Axon Sports Youth Soccer Coaches Concussion Awareness Survey reveal important realities about the state of concussion awareness and management in youth soccer in the United States. The survey will be conducted on an annual basis to continue providing these valuable metrics. We hope you find these survey results informative and insightful. Korrio & Axon Sports
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Describe your level of awareness concerning sports concussions.

Number of Coaches

Level of Awareness

Nearly 75% of youth soccer coaches are very to extremely awareof sports concussions.

Have you witnessed a concussion on the soccer field this past season?

Number of Coaches

More than 30% of youth soccer coaches have witnessed a concussion on the soccer field this past season.

Does your league, club or team have an established set of guidelines pertaining to player concussions?

Just over 82% of leagues, clubs or teams have an established set of guidelines pertaining to player concussions.

Does your league, club or team have a sideline protocol for dealing with head injuries?

67% of all leagues, clubs and teams have a sideline protocol for dealing with head injuries.

Number of Coaches

Have coaches in your league, club or team received training or education about concussions in the past year?

Number of Coaches

66% of coaches have received concussion training and education in the past year.

True or False: 1 in 10 athletes will suffer a concussion this year.

Close to 90% of coaches correctly answered True that 1 in 10 athletes will suffer a concussion this year supporting the results of a recent CDC study.

Does your league, club or team intend to implement any new policies concerning player concussions in the next year?

Number of Coaches

30% of coaches indicated their organization intends to implement new policies concerning player concussions in the next year.
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Have you or a member of your staff received training on how to identify the signs and symptoms of a concussion?

Number of Coaches

75% of coaches have received training on how to identify the signs and symptoms of a concussion.

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Does your organization require medical clearance before a player who has been diagnosed with a concussion is allowed to resume practice or game action?

Just over 81% of organizations require medical clearance before a player who has been diagnosed with a concussion is allowed to resume practice or game action.

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True or False: Contact with the ball accounts for 70 percent of concussions.

Number of Coaches

While 30% of coaches believe this to be true, collisions are what really cause 70% of concussions.

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Are you familiar with baseline testing for concussion management?

Number of Coaches

Coaches familiarity with baseline testing was split. 50.4% were familiar with baseline testing, while 49.6% of coaches were not.

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Have you personally recommended baseline testing for concussion management to players or parents?

Number of Coaches

Only 20% of coaches have recommended baseline testing as a concussion management tool to players or parents.

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Does your league, club or team recommend preseason baseline testing for concussion management?

84% of coaches indicated their organization does not recommend baseline testing as a tool for concussion management.

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Do you think player concussions are a serious problem in youth soccer?

Level of Agreement

Nearly 42% of coaches remain Neutral or Disagree/Strongly Disagree that player concussions are a serious problem in youth soccer.

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Do you see more concussions from male or female athletes?

Number of Coaches

60% of coaches have seen more concussions from male athletes than from female athletes.

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Does your league, club or team offer any concussion education for parents?
55.2% (139)

Number of Coaches

Nearly 45% of coaches indicated their organization does not offer any concussion education for parents.

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