The Coach’s Role in Sport Concussion Care: Developing High School and Youth Coaches through the Concepts of Deliberate Practice
Submitted by Brandon D. Spradley1, EdD*, Fred Cromartie2, EdD*
1* Acting Director of Continuing Education at the United States Sports Academy, Daphne, Alabama 36526
2* Director of Doctoral Studies at the United States Sports Academy, Daphne, Alabama, 36526
Dr. Brandon Spradley is the Acting Director of Continuing Education at the United States Sports Academy. Dr. Fred Cromartie is the Director of Doctoral Studies at the United States Sports Academy.
ABSTRACT
Sport coaches have a significant role in providing concussion care to young athletes. The foundations of expert coaching and elite performance that is so often cited in scholarly literature can be used to develop coaches in the area of sport-related concussion care. There are two essential components to providing optimal sports concussion care: understanding athletes and the sports they play and understanding the neurology of the injury (Kutcher, 2011). Research shows that detecting early signs of concussion can improve outcomes (Lovell, 2009); therefore, there is a need for a rapid screening test to assess athletes who may have a concussion (Galetta et al., 2011). The King-Devick Test is a concussion screening test that could meet this need and is based on measuring the speed participants complete rapid number naming test cards. The King-Devick Test has been consistently published in research as an accurate and reliable method of identifying athletes with head trauma. Using the concepts and applications of deliberate practice, high school and youth sport coaches can implement easy-to-use assessments such as the King-Devick Test into their sport programs to develop competency in protecting athletes from the effects of concussion.
Key Words: sport-related concussions, King-Devick Test, expertise, deliberate practice (more…)