High school sports coaches and school administrators are being besieged these days by medical and media reports of sports-related concussions and their potentially dire effect on young athletes. Traumatic brain injury is firmly out of the closet, and coaches who keep their players in the game after witnessing serious head hits and concussion-type symptoms are being viewed increasingly as anachronistic and out of touch with both modern science and best medical practices.

They are also being sued, which in itself will almost certainly have a strong effect on how young players across the country suffering head hits will be handled going forward.

A recent case from a Pennsylvania town drives home the point. A 19-year-old male has just sued the high school district where he graduated, along with its principal, football coach and athletic trainer, alleging that as a high-school player he was continuously sent back into games after suffering serious head hits without evaluation and despite the expressed concerns of teammates.

According to his legal complaint, the collisions have dramatically changed his life. He cannot engage in regular work, and suffers from depression, insomnia, vomiting, hot flashes and other symptoms.

The young man's lawsuit was filed in federal court due to the allegation that his constitutional right to an education was violated by the school's actions in regard to his numerous head hits. His complaint alleges that administrators pushed him through the system and allowed him to graduate, despite his inability to do quality academic work owing to his concussion symptoms.

Related Resource: www.post-gazette.com "Former high school football player sues Highlands over head injuries" April 8, 2011