The Michigan High School Athletic Association has found through collection of preliminary data that fewer than 2% of it’s more than 70,000 winter sports student-athletes experienced potential concussions during the sports season that ended in March. The data amounted to around 1.6 per school. Though 39% of MHSAA schools reported no concussions.
Girls basketball, which only accounts for 22% of all winter athletes accounted for 38% of total concussions. That was the highest percentage of any sport. Boys basketball represents 30% percent of winter student-athletes but only 20% of concussions. Only 13% of winter athletes participate in wrestling but wrestlers suffered 20% of concussions.
Data is only preliminary so far and will continue to be verified and analyzed. This is the first year that the MHSAA has collected this data.
The MHSAA is the first state association to provide insurance to all of it’s participants at the high school and middle school/jr. high levels. This coverage is intended to pay accident medical expense benefits to cover deductibles and co-pays left unpaid for costs related to head injuries suffered during practices or competitions. This is at no cost to the families or schools. The program expects to yield additional data about the frequency and severity of head injuries. With more than 70,000 student athletes there were 110 claims for the program this year.
Additionally the MHSAA was among the first associations to implement return-to-play protocol for athletes with concussion symptoms. The protocol restricts the athlete from activity until at least the next day and keeps them from returning to competition until they’ve been cleared by a doctor.
More information on concussions in Michigan high school sports will be available when the MHSAA completes their comprehensive report for the entire year.