Soccer must be at the top of the list.

After 25 years active in High School sports, several observations can be made about the increase in concussions. Kids are bigger and faster than ever. Coaches have tended to move away from their Teacher role. Parents believe that their "Johnny" will obviously be the next college super-star, but more importantly should play every down and make every touchdown. Officials are ostracized for enforcing the rules as written.

Parents need to sit back, watch the game and keep their mouths shut. Coaches need to teach proper techniques and discipline kids who don't play by the rules. School Administration needs to set a clear policy of adherence to rules of the game, discipline Coaches and players who violate those policies and support Coaches who sit a kid down for breaking rules regardless of the parents. Officials need to enforce the rules as they are written not in a manner to curry favor for assignments. Those who assign Officials need to understand the rules and make assignments based on an Officials ability and willingness to enforce those rules instead of on whether Coaches like the way that person officiates their games.

Let's quit trying to write more rules instead of holding every party who has a responsibility for the safety of the young atheletes accountable.

There are too many walking wounded out there. Concussions are cumulative. My son played full-contact football for 10 years. The physical and psychological benefits of playing sports are a positive, but his cognition was permanently impaired. Parents, think about this - Only 1 in 100 high school athletes compete in college. Only 1 in 100 college athletes go pro. The odds are therefore 1 in 10,000 that Johnny will play past college. And athletic scholarships? Forget about it - they are a myth. If you DO get an athletic scholarship, your academics will suffer. If you think sports are a path to greatness and prosperity, think again. It could create the reverse effect - a life of diminished mental capacity and lost opportunities.

Don't let your kids play contact sports !!! Injury and DEATH await them !!! Swimming can be competitive without all the SHOCK TRAUMA of the others !!!