Youth football aims to improve safety for players
APEX, N.C. (WTVD) -- The Apex Sports Authority is hosting concussion awareness week leading up to the first football and cheerleading practices on Friday.
Earlier this week, the NCAA announced a settlement with athletes in a concussion lawsuit. Now, there's an attempt to completely change the sports culture -- all the way from youth to the pros.
The Apex Sports Authority is joining forces with Carolina Family Practice and Sports Medicine to give baseline testing to child athletes. The tests will be used as a comparison if the child is injured in the future.
Another part of concussion awareness week is teaching young football players a new technique called "heads-up tackling".
The idea is to stop the natural tendency to lower the helmet at contact and instead keep the head up and back to prevent concussions.
The Sports Authority is encouraging parents to participate in the drill so they can help their kids practice at home.
There is also new equipment being developed to prevent head injuries. One is called a "gel defender".
"Gel defender is basically a skull cap that's made of a gel material that their testing shows will help reduce the g-force impact," said ASA Football Commissioner Mark Priest. "Again, we are experimenting with them. We're trying it out. They're going to give us a few so we can get some feedback and give them feedback as well."
Those involved in youth football hope that today's beginners will change the entire culture of football and injuries will be changed for years to come.
