SOBI: Concussion Panel

CONCUSSION PANEL: Should contact sports be limited for children under 12 years to reduce sport originated brain injury?

1-4Professor Patria Hume, 4Associate Professor Mel Bussey, 1,3Mr Joshua McGeown, 5 Professor Nick Draper, 6,1Dr Ken Quarrie 1Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand (SPRINZ), Auckland University of Technology (AUT), Auckland, New Zealand 2National Institute of Stoke and Applied Neurosciences (NISAN), AUT, Auckland, New Zealand 3Traumatic Brain Injury Network, AUT, Auckland, New Zealand 4School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago 5School of Health Sciences, University of Canterbury 6New Zealand Rugby The aim of this panel is to provide for SESNZ members a multidisciplinary discussion on evidence for and against whether contact sports should be limited for children under 12 years to reduce sport originated brain injury.

There has been a previous call for a ban in tackling in rugby in the UK, and discussion on risk assessment in sport. There is emerging evidence that 12 years of age may be a good threshold for contact sport engagement for a variety of sports. However, questions have been raised over whether banning tackle rugby for children could actually increase the risk of sport originated brain injury when they start tackle rugby at a later age. As children mature, they get taller, heavier, and faster which enables them to impart more energy during impacts that potentially increase the risk of injury. The risks of concussion for rugby players aged 7-12 is low based on ACC statistics; however, it increases as players get older and therefore bigger and faster. There are issues with chronological 12 years being the contact sport threshold from a growth and biomechanics view point. Each panel speaker will outline key points from their research and indicate the relevance to children:

• Associate Professor Mel Bussey, Te Kura Para –Whakawai – School of Physical Education, Sport & Exercise Sciences, Universtiy of Otago – Snow sports and causes of head injuries in children. • Mr Joshua McGeown, Auckland University of Technology – Recovery implications for children from SOBI. • Professor Nick Draper, School of Health Sciences, University of Canterbury – Maximising mitigation of head injuries for children: headgear and beyond. • Dr Ken Quarrie, NZ Rugby – Approaches by NZR and the issues of contact sport for children. The panel discussion will include Q&A from the delegates.