Recently in my Anatomy and Physiology class, the topic of concussions had come up. This topic was in relation to our lesson on the nervous system. Now, people think concussions are simply headaches that come after getting hit in the head, but they are much more than that.

Even though a headache is the most common symptom of concussions after being hit, they also include dizziness, lightheadedness, balance problems, memory problems, ringing in the ears, nausea, and much more. People usually relate concussions to sports-related injuries (mostly football) or car accidents. There are more than 3 million reported concussions every year that are sports inflicted. This statistic is one that worries parents because of what can result from concussion.

So, the question raised quite often is “would you let your child play a contact sport even if he or she had the risk of encountering an injury inflicting permanent brain damage?” My response to this question would be yes; I would allow my child to play a sport even if he or she had the risk of enduring a horrific brain injury. There is a risk for injury in anything that a person does, whether that be driving, walking, playing, sitting in class, or even sleeping. Therefore, injury is not preventable, but taking away from your children’s life experiences is. As a college student-athlete, I have witnessed many people receive concussions, but luckily, I have not had to witness a concussion that would end a person’s future.

As a student-athlete, I know that once a person receives a concussion, part of the brain is damaged, and they are more susceptible to future injuries concerning the brain. That is why there is a limit on the number of concussions an athlete can sustain before not being able to play anymore. There is a system that one must go through before being released to play again. They must be symptom-free and out for a certain amount of days. The athlete is then slowly released back into play before being able to go full force. With this knowledge and knowing how a concussion can impact a person’s life, I would still encourage my children to play sports because I believe it helps to build character and personalities that will stick with children for a lifetime.

I believe that just because a serious injury can come out of playing contact sports, it should not limit the parent to deny the child the right to play the sport. If this is the reasoning behind not allowing your child to play a sport, then in my eyes, the child should live in a bubble and never leave the house because there is a risk of injury no matter what the child does.