Concussions in Youth Sports: What Parents Need to Know (and Do) Right No

Written by: Crystal Ray, MA, LPA

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month, making this an ideal time to highlight practical steps families can take to protect young athletes and support safe recovery.

Youth sports offer kids confidence, community, and lifelong health habits — but they also come with a real risk of concussion. With millions of sports-related concussions happening each year in the U.S., parents and caregivers need simple, actionable steps that keep kids safe without pulling them out of the activities they love. Below are the essentials — plus direct links to the official Return-to-Learn and Return-to-Play protocols you can use today.

Know the Signs: Concussion Symptoms Aren’t Always Obvious

A concussion doesn’t always involve losing consciousness. Kids may report headaches, dizziness, sensitivity to light or noise, nausea, or just ‘not feeling right.’ You might notice confusion, clumsy movements, delayed responses, or behavior that’s out of character.

Quick Action Step: Teach your child to speak up immediately if they feel off after a fall, hit, or sudden stop — even if the impact didn’t look bad.

When in Doubt, Sit Them Out

If a concussion is suspected, remove the athlete from play right away. Even brief continued participation is linked with worsened symptoms and longer recovery time.

Quick Action Step: Tell coaches in advance: ‘If my child takes a hit and something seems off, please remove them from play so we can evaluate.’

You don’t need proof of a concussion to prioritize safety. Kids often want to ‘shake it off.’ Remind them their brain comes first.

Understand the Return-to-Learn and Return-to-Play Protocols (And Ask You Doctor About Them)

Recovering from a concussion isn’t guesswork – there are established Return-to-Learn (RTL) and Return-to-Play (RTP) protocols designed to help kids get back to school and back to sports both safely and gradually. These protocols offer a guided, step-by-step progression that are proven to reduce symptoms, prevent setbacks, and protect kids from dangerous conditions like Second Impact Syndrome.

Return-to-Learn (RTL) starts first. Kids begin with 24–48 hours of relative rest, then slowly add cognitive activity back in — short reading, partial school days, then gradually increasing to full academic workload. They don’t need to be 100% symptom-free to start school again, and waiting too long can delay recovery.

Return-to-Play (RTP) only begins once RTL is complete. It starts with light movement (like walking), then progresses step-by-step through sport-specific drills and non-contact practice before the athlete is cleared for full play. If symptoms return at any stage, they step back and try again later.

Quick action step:

Ask your healthcare provider:

“Can you walk me through the Return-to-Learn and Return-to-Play steps for my child?”

“At what point should we move to the next stage, and what symptoms should I watch for?”

When should we call you?

You can also review the protocols online from trusted, evidence-based sources:

· CDC: Returning to School After a Concussion

· CDC: 6-Step Return to Play Progression

· PedsConcussion: Living Guideline for Pediatric Concussion Care (families & clinicians)

These organizations publish clear, step-by-step instructions you can follow at home and share with coaches or schools.

Why this matters:

Parents who understand these protocols can advocate for their child, ensure the school is following proper steps, and prevent early return to sports — one of the biggest risk factors for prolonged recovery.

Prevent What You Can: Gear, Rules, and Culture

You can’t prevent every concussion, but you can reduce risk: ensure helmets fit properly; follow age-appropriate rules (no heading in youth soccer, no body-checking in youth hockey); and create a culture where kids report symptoms without stigma. One short conversation before the season can prevent a major setback later.

Quick Action Step: Have a 2-minute talk this week: ‘If you get hit and something doesn’t feel right, tell me or your coach right away.’

The Bottom Line (Your Call to Action)

Concussions can’t be eliminated from youth sports, but the consequences of a concussion can be dramatically reduced with fast recognition, proper rest, and a safe return-to-learn and return-to-play plan.

Today, choose one action:

· Talk with your child

· Email your coach

· Download/print a concussion checklist

· Check your athlete’s equipment

Small steps now create safer athletes for life!