Woodbury coaches laud progress In concussion prevention effort

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Mike Pendino said he prefers to err on the side of caution when it comes to concussions.

“When you’re playing around with someone’s head, I don’t think you can be cautious enough,” the East Ridge High School head football coach said.

That’s why he and others in the Woodbury athletics community were supportive of a new law calling for heightened attention to concussions in youth sports.

“I’m all for that,” Pendino said of the legislation, which received Gov. Mark Dayton’s signature last month.

Dayton held a ceremony last week for the new law, which requires coaches, parents and young athletes get more information about concussions.

Kayla Meyer, a New Prague, Minn., youth, was one of several young athletes who suffered concussions and told legislators this year that concussions need to be taken more seriously. Now, Meyer said, other young athletes need to learn how serious the brain injury can be.

“They need to realize their health is more important than the game,” Meyer said.

Dayton held a mock bill signing ceremony Wednesday, June 8, with supporters of the measure flanking him.

The new law requires officials of organizations that sponsor youth sports events, parents, coaches and young athletes to learn about concussions. It also forbids officials from allowing youths to continue play or practice if a concussion is suspected.

Concussions have been a prime discussion topic at all levels of sports in recent months as the brain injury gets more publicity.

Pendino said current policy for East Ridge athletics requires student athletes pass a concussion baseline test before they are allowed to return to play. He said he would even be willing to support baseline testing requirements for any head injury.

Though Woodbury hockey coach Wes Bolin said he wasn’t familiar with the bill, he said he has been supportive of progress in realm of sports-related concussions. He hearkened back to his playing days, when protective measures weren’t as stringent.

“Under today’s guidelines, I don’t know how many times I would have been pulled from games or practice,” he said. “It’s good to see society as a whole is beginning to see the seriousness of concussion management.”

Rep. Rob Hamilton, R-Mountain Lake, helped push the bill through the Minnesota House.

“I thought it was a great policy to bring forward,” said Hamilton, who enlisted his daughter’s boyfriend to testify to a committee about his own concussions.

As the brief ceremony ended, Dayton and Hamilton praised Meyer for her poise in front of a dozen reporters and photographers.

“They didn’t include this part on the fourth-grade field trip to the Capitol,” she quipped.

Don Davis reports for Forum Communications Co.

Tags: news, woodbury, health