Pittsburgh Steelers’ Mike Tomlin, UPMC’s Dr Micky Collins unveil concussion education plan – NFL News
Pittsburgh Steelers’ coach Mike Tomlin, who is an orchestrator of the team’s concussion education programme, has said the campaign is aimed at raising awareness on the head hits among school and college league players.
Mike while speaking at unveiling ceremony of the plan said that ‘don't hit the head, don't use the head’ will target these institutions through multiple education material including visits from pro league players to highlight the significance of playing safe.
The Steelers have devised the campaign in collaboration with University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre (UPMC) Sports Medicine Concussion Programme, while Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert and the coach have contributed towards preparation and finalisation of the programme.
Dr Micky Collins of the centre said:
"This campaign has the possibility of tremendous change for our youth and high school football players. If these words are really followed, I guarantee we're going to prevent a lot of injuries."
Tomlin while elaborating features of the campaign said a packet containing fact sheet will be sent to schools and colleges in the Western Pennsylvania. The fact sheet will have a letter from the coach, posters carrying awareness messages for locker rooms and concussion programme of the University Centre.
The coach said of the plan’s significance:
"The scarcity of the opportunity is what makes it difficult to coach. You want to highlight those situations. We talk making the player more cognizant."
Although scope of the programme is limited to young players, it nevertheless is a welcome effort and will likely contribute towards increasing awareness about concussions to an extent.
Concussion has become a subject of heated debate in the league and legal battle in the court where former players of the National Football League (NFL) have sued the office over allegedly compromising their safety.
As a result of a controversy that stemmed from a head hit on Cleveland Browns’ quarterback Colt McCoy by Steelers’ linebacker James Harrison last season, the league was also prompted to place a medical trainer to assist teams’ medical staff in monitoring, assessing and treating players for concussion during each game.
Further, the office suspended James for a game over the hit on McCoy, which was seen to be an insignificant punishment but has provided a direction to the efforts, to check head injuries being made at different levels.
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