Concussions in College Football

By: Kyle Rountree, Hani Barradah & Jose Ruiz

Introduction Research Hypothesis Data Collection Data Summary Analysis Conclusions Recommendations

Overview

Concussions◦ A concussion is a brain injury that is caused by a

sudden blow to the head or to the body. The blow shakes the brain inside the skull, which temporarily prevents the brain from working normally.

Introduction

The likeliness of concussions in college football, relevant to high school.

The issue of concussions has been an growing concern because more players have suffered from them. Also have reoccurring concussions.

Introduction

External Research◦ The first study title: “College football concussions

plateau from 2004-08”, this discussed how concussion rate dropped from 3.4 per 1,000 football players in 2004 to 2.4 in 2005. The figure was no higher than 2.8 in the three seasons that followed. The rate includes concussions reported during both games and practice.

Introduction

External Research◦ The second study title: “Watch out for

concussions this football season”, it discussed A study by the National Athletic Trainers Association revealed that 4 to 6 percent (around 68,000) of high school football players get concussions every year.

Introduction

1. How common are concussions for football players on this campus?

2. What symptoms have been experienced from concussions?

3. How severe can a concussion be?4. How many of these players have suffered

concussions in high school?5. Which side offense or defense has a better

chance of obtaining a concussion?6. Is a concussion more likely while the player

is in motion or standing still?

General Questions

1. We believe that collegiate football players more likely to suffer concussions than to high school.

2. We believe that offensive players obtain more concussions compared to defensive players.

3. We believe concussions are more likely when getting hit in motion rather than standing still.

Research Hypothesis

Since we are conducting our study based on concussions and football, our findings were based off the opinions of our sample proportion.

Target Audience◦ Wilkes University Football Players◦ Wilkes University Football Coaches

Research/ Target Audience

1. Age: _____ 2. How long did you play football in college? _____ 3. Have you had a concussion before?Yes No 4. How severe was your concussionMild ------------------------------ Severe1 2 3 4 5

5. What were the symptoms that you suffered? Check all that applies.

HeadacheConfusionDizziness VomitingOther _____________________

6-How long were you inactive for?

Methods of Collecting Data

7- When you suffered your concussion, were you standing still or were you in motion?

8-Did you play offense or defense and what position did you play?

9-What position on defense do you think suffers the most concussions? SafetiesCornerbacksLinebackersDefensive Lineman  10-What position on offense do you think suffers the most concussions?

QuarterbacksRunning BacksOffensive Lineman/Tight EndsWide Receivers 11- What precautions do you think should be installed to decrease the amount of concussions

suffered in college football? 

Method of Collecting Data

1. How long have you been coaching?

2. During your tenure as a coach have many of your players suffered a concussion?

3. From the beginning of your coaching tenure until now, has there been an increase in players suffering concussions?

4. If yes, what do you think the reason for this is?

5. If no, why do you think it has decreased?

6. What symptoms have you noticed to be common for concussions? Were they severe or mild?

7. Depending on the severity of the concussion, what is the time span of players’ being inactive?

8. From your observation were players standing still or in motion when they suffered the concussion?

9. From a coach’s perspective, what do you think can be done to prevent concussions from the college level? Whether it is football or another collegiate sport.

 

Method of Collecting Data

34 paper surveys returned 4 Personal Interviews completes Total of 38 responses to study

Data Summary

0 115

15.5

16

16.5

17

17.5

18

18.5

Total

Total

Concussions in College

Headache17%

Confusion6%

Diziness12%

All65%

Total

Symptoms Experienced

Mild6%

Moderate25%

Neutral44%

Intense19%

Severe6%

Total

Severity of Concussions

0 10

5

10

15

20

25

Total

Total

Concussions in High School

Due to the fact that our data focuses mainly on qualitative data instead quantitative data, we are can not precisely test for probability or correctly represent center of measures.

In effort to clearly analyze the data, we have done numerous proportion test too determine the relationship between college and high school football players to concussions.

Analysis

One Sample Proportion

Two Sample Proportion

Two Sample Proportion

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.20

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

f(x) = − 1.06666666666667 x + 2R² = 1

Concussions vs. Contact

Series1Predicted 0Linear (Predicted 0)

Concussion

Conta

ct

Regression

Regression

Regression

The majority of students that suffered concussions have experienced all of the symptoms.

More students who had concussions sustained only a mild concussion.

For the Wilkes University Football team, concussions are not common.

Report Summary

Collegiate football players have sustained more concussions than high school football players.

Players on the offensive side of the ball seem to be more likely to sustain a concussion rather than a player on the defensive side of the ball.

Taking a hit in motion seems to make a player more vulnerable to obtain a concussion.

Report Summary (cont.)

Interview question Responses:◦ Players should do more neck exercises to

strengthen it.◦ Work and try to improve tackling form◦ Coaches and trainers have to do a better job of

informing players about the dangers of concussion.

Recommendations & Impact

The impact of this study was positive because it made players and coaches more aware of how often concussions are occurring.

Also that made them aware that more needs tdone to try to prevent and inform players of concussions.

Recommendations & Impact(cont.)

Wider Distribution of paper survey and interviews◦ Reach out more to other players and coaches

besides the ones at Wilkes University. Increase collection and use of quantitative

data.

Suggested Improvements

• http://www.nevadaappeal.com/article/20100225/SPORTS/100229817

• http://www.childrens.com/PatientsFamilies/News/watch-out-for-concussions-this-football-season.cfm

• www.webmd.com

Sources

Questions