To:       DJFL Community

From:  DJFL Board of Directors

Re:       Player Safety/ Baseline Concussion Testing Offered

We write to update you on initiatives the DJFL is taking to enhance our mission to teach the sport of football to Darien youth in an enjoyable and safe environment. 

Track Record of Keeping Players Safe

The DJFL program is designed for and committed to player safety.  Our philosophy is simple: create an environment that is designed to prevent injuries from incurring.  Our consistently low incidents of concussion and/or player injury is a result of this commitment.

Two specific examples of our framework for delivering a safe football environment for Darien players are our focus on: (i) coach education and training, and (ii) modified tackle program.

Coach Education and Training

All DJFL coaches must be certified in concussion awareness, CPR and first aid training, and football skills education and training.  Each coach is required to take and be certified in live and online courses through US Football in each of these areas, and all coaches spend many hours completing these courses and being tested for competencies in these areas before the season starts.

Modified Tackle

Over the years we have implemented many on-field safety measures to reduce the chances of player injury, including the following:

• All players must complete three days of football skill conditioning before advancing to wearing full pads.
• We limit full contact tackling in practices throughout the season.  All of our drills are designed to teach safe tackling techniques.  Coaches spend the vast majority of their time teaching skills at half speed and with limited contact to instill the proper techniques for safe play.
• To reduce high speed tackling in live games there are no kickoff returns in grades 3^rd through 8^th grade. No live punt returns in grade 3^rd through 6^th grade. A modified, no rush punt return is allowed in 7^th and 8^th grades.
• Our football league, the Fairfield County Football League (FCFL) has strict rules prohibiting helmet contact in games and our referees are highly focused ensuring safe play.  The FCFL also enforces strict weight limits in each grade which limit the relative heavy players to interior line positions (players are weighed before games).

Results

The best measure of the effectiveness of our safety measures is to analyze the number and type of injuries that occur.  In 2017, the DJFL had approximately 290 players on 13 teams, which played at total of 114 games and held approximately 420 practices.

In 2017, there were 17 football-related injuries to our 290 players.  Of these, four were reported as concussions in games and three were reported as headache/potential concussions in practices. 

This is a low ratio of injuries relative to the number of players and the amount of hours spent on the field and it shows the results of our emphasis on safety.  The rate of concussions in our football program is lower than other town sports, including soccer.[1]

Our 2017 results are similar to prior year results – we consistently have low concussion and other injury counts.  Despite these results, we are constantly looking for ways to continuously improve Darien’s safe football environment, and we have decided to make an investment in the area of injury management.

In 2018 we will introduce two new initiatives which will help us be more proactive in the area of injury management: we will now provide Licensed and Certified Athletic Trainers at all home games and we will provide concussion baseline testing (and post-concussion testing) at our cost.

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[1] Our awareness about concussion prevention and management mirrors the national attention being given to these areas by organizations such as the NCAA and NFL.  The NCAA and US Department of Defense recently conducted a comprehensive study of the incidents of concussions.  The results of their analysis showed that, between the 2009 and 2014 academic years, the concussion rate per 10,000 athletic exposures in NCAA sports were as follows:

• 6.3 for Women’s Soccer

• 6.7 for Football

• 7.5 for Women’s Hockey

• 7.9 for Men’s Hockey

• 10.9 for Wrestling

We are excited to announce that Performance Optimal Health is partnering with Darien JR Football for another successful season. The Performance team of experts will serve as trusted healthcare resources to our community with their mission of helping our athletes perform their best, both on and off the field.

Below is some key information describing our partnership with Performance, including dedicated offerings for DJFL athletes, resources and education available to our community.

Pre-Season Preparation:

Injury Prevention Screenings:

The orthopedic and sports physical therapists at Performance will perform a comprehensive injury prevention screening proactively for all DJFL athletes before the season starts. The screening is designed to identify any potential risk factors for injury by assessing range of motion, flexibility, strength, and movement proficiency that may inhibit optimal performance. Recommendations and guidance will be provided by their team personalized to each athlete.

ImPACT Baseline Concussion Test

The ImPACT test is a computerized neurocognitive test that allows for appropriate management of concussions. The data from the tests will be used, in conjunction with Performance’s medical team's evaluations, to see where any neuro-cognitive changes may have occurred following a head injury. Performance's athletic trainers and physical therapists will use this data along with their clinical evaluations to better diagnose head injuries and help better understand what brain areas may be impaired after a head injury.  This is done by comparing the baseline test scores (your child's normal brain function) with post-injury test scores to see where any deficiencies may be. Parents can allow 30 minutes for the baseline testing. Should your athlete sustain a concussion or a head injury it is advised to see a physician. From there, concussion care will likely be recommended in order to return to sport safely. The injury test can occur with the team at Performance Optimal Health, which will compare baseline metrics to current state, to inform a safe return to sport protocol regimen.  

The cost of the injury prevention screenings and ImPACT concussion baseline tests are covered by the league. 

During the Season:

On-Field Practice and Game Coverage:

Performance Optimal Health will have athletic trainers and sports certified physical therapists on the field during games and practices, as well as local emergency first responders to ensure proper injury triage as well as coordinating referrals to continuing care. In the event of an injury, the trainer will assess in real time and Performance Optimal Health will help families communicate with physicians and therapists for continuing care when needed. The Performance team is committed to directly assisting parents in managing their children's injuries, including facilitating referrals to local orthopedic and sports physicians when needed.

Same-Day Injury Management and Priority Booking:

Specialized treatment and injury management will be performed by expert physical therapists at Performance to get athletes back on the field and performing their best. Performance will provide priority booking for Darien JR Football athletes for immediate and same-day injury management, available at their Darien location. Should your athlete sustain an injury or would like to address a concern, their team of experts are available to guide DJFL athletes and families through proper assessments, education and coordination of care to ensure a safe return to sport.

To learn more about Performance and to schedule your child's ImPACT testing

Visit  https://performanceoptimalhealth.com/djfl/   or email [email protected]

They have a location here in Darien at 800 Post Road and lower Fairfield county locations including New Canaan, Greenwich and Westport.

We encourage all parents to leverage the Performance Optimal Health team of experts to ensure the health, safety and performance of our athletes.