There are many aspects to the sport of football that attract the massive crowds of fans. It is an action packed, high contact sport popular across the country.  Football is an American pastime people watch anywhere from in person, to online, to live television. The National Football League’s Super Bowl is an annual spectacle with millions tuning in to watch. The franchise has many moving parts from departments in advertising, business management, and medical staff. It takes a lot to successfully operate this league and push its image into a positive direction. As a viewer, there are many elements one expects to see while watching a football game. Viewers can cheer on their favorite players, watch incredible, athletics plays, to very violent ones. One of the risks of playing a sport, especially one with as much physical contact as football, is the high probability of getting injured. In Super Bowl fifty alone, it was predicted a single player could expect to endure “an estimated 130-plus plays, hundreds of hits, tackles, spears, and lay outs”(Giles). Based on these numbers this leaves a high risk to head injuries. A concussion is just one form of injury very common for players to experience. This is not a new concept for players, but over the last couple decades the concerns over head injuries have risen. The NFL has been working to try to make the game safer for players. Concussions are a very prominent injury in the National Football League, and due to the concern, the league is making efforts to reduce those statistics by conducting more research, improving equipment, and altering game day protocol changes. 

Football is a popular event which has been around for decades. In recent years, the sport has been viewed as too dangerous, especially in the national division with such high levels of media coverage. Concussions are a major contributing factor to that opinion. In the 2015 season, the National Football League (NFL) reported a record number of 271 concussions (Ossola). That is the most reported in history of the NFL (Ossola). There was a new standard of protocol introduced in 2009, but this recent increase in head injuries has caused for some re-evaluation (Stites). As far as some additional adjustments on concussion protocol, in 2011 the league changed a few rules dealing with injury protocol (Stites). More recently in 2016, the league introduced a sort of penalty system for teams that do not comply to the new rules put in place (Stites). This is a basic summary of the league’s regulations in the past few years to try to reduce the player's injury risk.  These statistics only include the number of concussions reported, so it is highly likely many of the head injuries go unreported. 

In order to understand the reform needed, there must be an exceptional understanding as to how concussions form and why they are common in this sport. In an article titled “What Happens to a Football Player's Brain During a Concussion?”, Matt Giles, explains that process. The author uses example of a concussion Antonio Brown endured to demonstrate the effects on the brain during a head-on collision. He explains his brain “twist(s) and spin(s). It does this in the opposite direction of the hit and inside his skull’s cerebrospinal fluid” (Giles). This fluid is responsible for protecting the brain. “In that same moment, his brain’s nerve fibers stretch and rotate” (Giles). In simpler terms, during a concussion, the brain collides with the skull leaving bruises on the surface. In football, there is a lot of contact with other players which creates easy conditions for players to suffer concussions. Actually, according to Auerbach and Waggoner, “Most concussions occur during practice” because this is the area where players spend most of their time. Among other high contact sports like soccer and hockey, there has not been as much reform invested in as football (Ossola). The NFL is leading the way for other sports with the new initiative “Play smart. Play Safe” (Stites). This is in the hopes that players will exit the league healthy, without barring the horrible aftermath of a concussion. 

While watching a football game, there are moments when a player collides with another and the sound of the two helmets colliding echo throughout the stadium. Sometimes players fall to the turf and cannot get back up without an escorted off the field. Other times all players on the field take a knee for the injured player or players. Concussions are arguably one of the most serious forms of injury. There are two potential effects a person could experience if they have a concussion. They are divided up into long term and short term effects. After a collision, there are some symptoms trainers and medical staff are expected to recognize. This ranges from as serious to unconsciousness to disorientation, or a vacant look (Stites). Some other indicators could be “slowed reflexes, pain in the head or neck, bad balance or memory loss” (Ossola). Long term effects are more life threatening and “can result in depression, impulse control problems, motor control issues like tremors, and dementia” (Ossola). There is still not a lot known about head injuries which is why it is essential the scientific community continues researching. Research is the key to understanding concussions in terms of how they form, why they form, and the possible steps needed to limit them. 

The scientific and medical communities have been working together for decades on concussion research, but unfortunately there is still lots of unknown information. All past acts put in place by The National Football League, have been based on research. One of the new areas explored is the relationship between genetics and a person's’ susceptibility to head injuries. Author Alexandra Ossola suggests factors such as “stress or returning too soon to normal activities, can affect how long it can take an athlete to recover from a concussion. There may also be a biological component which makes women and children suffering concussions different from men” (Ossola). Genetics is not the only topic being researched by scientists. Many scientists are trying to find alternative ways for head injuries to be detected and tracked. Wayne Sebastianelli, an accomplished doctor at Penn State is one medical researcher who poses an important question. He inquiries about ‘The biggest question people still have is when does the injury really stop occurring and is it ever really completely recovered,’ (Ossola). He simply means there is no definite time to tell when a concussion is fully healed or if it is even ever healed completely. As one example, researchers are looking at Biomarkers which is a “protein or by-product of the injury that doctors would be able to detect in a simple test of a patient's blood or saliva” (Ossola). Other studies are focused on the effects of the immune system in relation to concussions (Ossola). It has been discovered that when injuries happen anywhere in the body the immune system reacts strongly to repair (Ossola). Scientists would then look to the immune system to see the status of concussions. 

There have also been actions taken by the NFL to ensure that progress is being made to make the games safer. In 1994, the first Metabolic Brain Injury Committee (MTBI) was formed (Robeson and King). In 2009, the committee was under reconstruction and this was considered the first time the league was “tak[ing] seriously the risks and consequences of brain injury to players” (Robeson and King). There are many issues concerning the way concussion diagnosis is carried out. There is also a lot of controversy surrounding the connection between the MTBI Committee and The National Football League. After one shocking statistic, the league has been partnering with this committee more on research. They surveyed and discovered “nearly one- fifth of 160 NFL players surveyed by The Associated Press from Nov. 2-15 replied that they have hidden or played down the effects of a concussion” (Robeson and King). This was not good news for the league thus they had to put more stock into the issue of concussions. The MTBI was one form of research to help reduce the risk for players. 

Invention, new safety equipment, and playing tactics is also another method the NFL is using to reduce the amount of brain injuries a player could receive.  These new ideas sort of go hand in hand with research but the implication is different and many times the results are more quickly noticed. In a video source narrated by Chuck Salter, him and a few other experts explore a few new technologies being invented to protect players. They make the case that there is always room for improvement when it comes to safety equipment. Some of the new innovations include a tether, which would prevent a player’s head from wiping too hard in any one direction. More innovations include the creation of softer turf to reduce impact. Another being a new absorbing helmet, to simultaneously cushion the head and reduce impact. Many believe there is no helmet that could ever be invented which could possibly eliminate concussions, but every adjustment helps. Sometimes a little piece of padding or equipment can make the difference between a life-threatening injury or a recoverable one. The video source directly shows the NFL’s involvement in making new equipment. They have donated thousands of dollars to support inventors and they are also working with huge clients. Right now, the NFL is working with the US Army to conduct research and cross some technology with some equipment they normally use during deployment. 

In terms of preventing head injuries with protective equipment, one piece has been under scrutiny for a long time and that is the helmet. One way the sport of football is trying to ease the impact on players’ brains is to test and revise helmets. The United States alone has “3.8 million sports-related concussions each year” (Rowson and Duma). This statistic prompted scientists Rowson and Duma to conduct a case study. This study uses 24 drop tests of a helmet to demonstrate the hard hits to a player’s head. The system for which they rank the safety of the helmets is called the STAR system or The Summation of Tests for the Analysis of Risks. This is just one example as to how researchers are modifying helmets based upon testing. In past years, the HIT system was common to use. It detected in action hits to the head by documenting the acceleration and impact (Rowson and Duma). There is a lot going on behind the scenes in efforts to limit dangerous blows to a player’s head. Obviously, concussions are not the only injury occurring the game of football, but the research happening in this area will most likely impact other areas with the new information discovered. The league has backed research institutions and all kinds of revolutionary testing to reduce the risk of injury every time the ball is snapped. 

As much preparation that can be done, there is nothing that prepares for game day itself. The National Football league broadcasts all over the country and as soon as kickoff happens thousands of people are cheering in person and at home. With such a large audience it is imperative, as a monster company, to execute the game properly. There are many moving parts to ensure it is a successful, exciting game, and most importantly a safe one. The NFL has not always had the same concussion game day protocol they have currently. It is something that is revised year by year, depending on the new research available. Game day protocol is a combination of elements. It is composed of identifying symptoms and the treatment made available for the player. 

In the past, game day protocol was not composed of much. Two well accomplished authors named, Paul Auerbach and William Waggoner wrote an article titled, “It’s Time to Change the Rules”. The authors make a lot of good points about the struggle to balance between the excitement and safety happening in a football game. Football is very intense and competitive; therefore, it sometimes makes it seem ethical for players to hit harder on purpose. Auerbach and Waggoner say as early as grade school football athletes are taught to hit harder in hope to eliminate the opposing player from the field (Auerbach and Waggoner). The stakes are so high, especially in the NFL, players will often risk their own health to play. It is common, the authors note, for players to lie on tests to detect concussions that could potentially keep them on the bench (Auerbach and Waggoner). Healing time is another issue the league has had is the amount of healing time for those who are injured. These are just a few problems the league faces when trying to improve the effectiveness of game day protocol. 

In recent years, the league has taken many smart steps to ensure players are being kept safe. Most of these improvements was to game day rules and regulations and protocol itself. Still there is work to be done but at least this is progress. Some experts believe the issue resides in younger football leagues, and they think changes should start to be made. The authors of “It’s Time to Change” article have the opinion that “full contact football should be abolished below the high school level” (Auerbach and Waggoner). In the National Football League, they are taking measures to adjust game day rules to prevent dangerous collisions. The medical staff and response to injuries has been completely reconstructed. Just to reiterate the history of concussion protocol, it was first enacted in 2009, edited in 2011, and in 2016 the enforcement protocol was released (Stites). For years, there was a “team medical staff and an unaffiliated neurological consultant” on the sidelines every game in case an injury was observed (Stites). There are also two medical spotters positioned in the booth that reviews plays to give their input and double check on rough hits. Recently in 2015, the NFL added a new rule for spotters which “allow[s] for the medical spotters to stop the game with a medical timeout to remove an injured player” (Stites). This new rule will ensure hurt players are treated properly. The medical team is responsible for watching the wellbeing of players and treating them when they are not well. In part of treating them a new rule was added called the “Return-to-Participation Protocol”. While this may seem minor, this is makes a huge difference on a player’s health. This rule institutes a five-step program for the hurt player to be released back onto the field. It is broken down into rest and recovery, light aerobic exercise, aerobic exercise with an introduction of strength training, football specific activities, and clearance (Stites). In summary, the player is evaluated and progresses to do exercises to ensure they are ready to run back into the huddle. This program really helps keep players from being re-injured. Studies show that the real danger is not the initial concussion but the many a person could experience after that. In the long term, it is vital since multiple head injuries can have greater repercussions such as. Changing game day protocol ensures help will be available and will be accurate to keep players playing longer. 

However, there are other ways in which head injuries are restricted on game days. For example, coaches encourage safe tackling, referees give out penalties called for dangerous plays, and fines can even be given to violent players. These all act as reinforcement for the protocol put in action. In the NFL, they have helped create a movement, along with USA Football, called “Heads- Up Football” (Keilman). The goal is to “encourage players to make contact by rising into the ball carrier with their chests and shoulders, keeping their heads back” (Keilman).

In 2016, new regulations were created to enforce the league's concussion protocol. They established new punishments because they found not all thirty-two clubs were following the 2009 concussion protocol. Infractions range anywhere from “$50,000 to $150,000 for a first violation, or loss of draft picks” (espn.com). This is in the hopes that guidelines will be followed and therefore make playtime safer. It was discussed by Roger Goodell, the NFL commissioner, to possible send a representative to each team to oversee that operations were being run legally (espn.com). Because of the rise in concussions in the past couple years it has forced the league to respond to maintain their reputation, as well as the players’ well beings.

Head injuries are a huge problem in sports but there are some who have opposing opinions. There are arguments, even by our current president, against the progress the NFL has made. During his campaign stating the NFL is growing ‘soft like the country has become soft’ (Boren). Donald Trump voices one of the common issues many people have about the sport. Many believe the more regulation and interference the more boring the game is going to get. Thus, many people may stop watching, because they expect exciting, violent packed plays. However, there are ways for fans to still get that satisfaction whilst still putting player safety first. Changing tackling styles and forcing players to get more creative will lead to better more athletic plays. On another note, it should be assumed by most people a player’s health the most important thing. A brain injury “can lead to memory loss, depression, confusion and other neurological and psychological issues” (Boren). This makes the risk of playing football huge, and if implementing some small rules here and there will help save someone’s life down the road than the protocol is worth it. Other limitations regarding how the league plans to combat the many head injuries would be the expensiveness of funding research and innovations. However, the cost of saving someone’s health is completely worth the thousands of dollars invested in research. The National Football League has many moving parts, not just the talented athletes. One of the main roles of the field is management and overall health of players for them to play the game they love for life. 

Football is what a lot of American’s constitute as something they love and bond over with their families. It is a very entertaining game filled with excitement and cheering. However, a few years ago the National Football League was being questioned regarding the dangers of concussions for players. Families were seeing replays of abnormally tough hits to the head on while sitting on their couches and in their stadium seats. For the player’s sake, it is important that there is new research being conducted. It is imperative there are new innovations being created. Lastly it is essential that we revise the rules to fit the changing ways the game of football is being played. If the National Football League leads the way with these changes, effects will be felt from little league to the professionals, then football will have a bright future. 

   

   
