Proper tackling technique to avoid concussions in high school football

The same scenario is played out at high school football games across the nation every Friday night. One young player attempts to tackle another player and does not use the right technique. The result can be devastating. Neck, back and head injuries are common and concussions often go undetected when they happen.

What makes these injuries particularly sad is that the vast majority of them could be avoided with proper coaching. If you tackle correctly, concussions are not nearly as common.

Why do coaches not teach proper tackling technique?

Most high school football coaches are simply teaching what they were taught. Back in their day, tackling was done by any means necessary. It was nothing to throw your body into a player in whatever way needed to make the stop. This was encouraged by many old-time coaches. Today, coaches are becoming more educated, but some of the old guard are still around.

What is a concussion and how does it happen in high school sports?

Concussions are defined as being traumatic injuries to the brain such that they cause the brain to malfunction in some way. Symptoms vary but can include dizziness, confusion, headaches, memory problems and balance issues. The symptoms are generally quick to go away, but they can return later if the damage is severe.

Concussions happen often in high school football because of the high impact nature of the sport and the inexperience of the players. Players often make the mistake of leading into a tackle with their head or dropping their head when they make a tackle. This puts the head in dangerous positions, not to mention the neck and back.

Medicine and studies have shown that concussions are very dangerous and not just "getting your bell rung" as coaches of old used to call it. The long-term effects of concussions are still being studied, but they are clearly dangerous.

What is the proper tackling technique to help avoid a concussion?

Concussions can't be avoided completely in football because of the nature of the sport. They can, however, be minimized as a risk. This is done by using proper tackling technique. This means keeping your head up throughout the tackle, driving your shoulder first into a runner's thighs and wrapping up tightly with your arms. Your head should be across the runner's body and up, while your body never bends beyond a 45-degree angle. Anything more and you are revealing the top of your head to danger.

*Rodney Southern is a former US Army combat medic and CNA II. His love of sports and extensive background playing led to a natural interest in sports medicine and the ways we find to injure ourselves.