It was a hot morning of double day practices last month when freshman football player Dominick Cozzi was blindsided by a teammate.
“I got in on kickoff and I was running down the field when I was hit on the side by a teammate. I remember getting up with a headache and I had blurred vision,” Cozzi said.
Cozzi walked over to the athletic trainer Missy Johnson, who diagnosed him with a concussion using a new test required by law. Before this injury occurred, Cozzi, along with all other athletes, was required to take a test that establishes a baseline score before a head injury.
“It made me think of seventh grade when the same thing happened to me,” Cozzi said.
On July 28, Illinois governor Pat Quinn passed a new law that requires medical clearance for student-athletes to return to action after an injury. It also aims to improve the education of athletes, their parents and their coaches about concussions.
“This new law will ensure that student-athletes, parents and coaches recognize the symptoms and understand the risks of concussions, so that they can prevent a more serious, lasting injury,” Quinn said.
Under House Bill 200, every Illinois school board has to adopt a concussion policy that follows the guidelines of the Illinois High School Association. The goal is to reduce the number of concussions that go unnoticed.
“We have heard disturbing stories about the long-term negative impact of concussions, this new law will make help sure that young athletes are better protected from potentially life-altering head injuries,” Senator Kwame Raoul said.
Kaneland now has a new computer testing system that will be used for all student-athletes who are suspected of possibly being concussed. Cozzi went through this testing after he suffered the concussion. His test wasn’t easy.
“The first day of my injury I had trouble with my memory,” Cozzi said.
Testing includes “Memorizing shapes and words and also reaction time,” he said.
Concussions can be tough, mind-altering and potentially long-term injuries. Athletes can take steps to help minimize the chances of suffering a concussion, but what they do doesn’t fully protect them.
Cozzi’s injury occurred before the season kicked off, and he is sidelined indefinitely until he passes the test at the level he established when he took it before he was concussed.
If a coach suspects that one of their players may have a concussion, they need to take immediate action and remove the potentially concussed athlete from action, according to the CDC.
All coaches, including varsity soccer coach Scott Parillo, are aware of the new testing. Parillo said it’s difficult to pass the test even without a concussion and that there’s a high standard the athlete must pass.
“I was looking at the computer testing,” Parillo said jokingly. “It’s crazy. If it would’ve been an IQ test, I would have none.”
New testing at the high school can help inform concussed athletes, coaches and parents if the athletes are still suffering concussion-related symptoms.
Michael Thorgesen, assistant freshman football coach, thinks the new testing is “interesting” and “a great tool to actually measure the severity of the concussion.”
Both Thorgesen and Parillo are most concerned about the health of their athletes. Concussion symptoms can last for months.
