Evidence-based Intervention for Improved Head Impact Safety in Youth Football - Aim 1 and Aim 3

Community-Engaged Sport Safety - Aim 1 and Aim 3

Two middle school (ages 11-14) football teams will be in Aim 1 of this study. All interested athletes on these teams will be invited to voluntarily participate in biomechanical data collection; of those enrolled, 15-20 per team will be randomly selected for instrumentation with head impact sensors. In aim 3, two youth football teams at the middle school level will be recruited to pilot an intervention developed this study. The football coaches of each team will be prospectively recruited and enrolled. All interested athletes on these teams will be enrolled; of those enrolled, 15-20 per team will be randomly selected for instrumentation with head impact sensors. Baseline and post-season neurocognitive data will be collected.

This study hypothesizes that (a) determinants at the individual (athlete), interpersonal (team & coach), and community levels (built & social environment) of the social ecological model may be identified and targeted to reduce head impact exposure in youth football practices, and (b) an evidence-based strategy to reduce head impact exposure in practices may be developed and pilot tested using a community-engaged approach.

Inclusion Criteria:

• All athletes participating on the prospective teams will be eligible for the study, including those with braces longer than 6 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Athletes will be excluded from participation if they have had braces less than 6 months, or have dental appliances that may impede the fit of the mouthpiece device (e.g., Herbst Appliance).