Examining Youth American Football Coaches’ Knowledge of, and Attitudes Toward, Sport Concussions

Abstract

The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine youth American football coaches and their knowledge of, and attitudes toward, sport concussions. Coaches (n = 103) were recruited from a randomized sample of Pop Warner leagues within a large Western state to complete the Rosenbaum Concussion Knowledge and Attitudes Survey. Coaches ranged from 25–75 years of age and were coaching youth athletes ranging from 6–14 years of age. Coaches scored in the 80th percentile on concussion knowledge, and in the 85th percentile on concussion attitudes. However, coaches were lacking in some areas of concussion knowledge such as concussion symptomology. There was also a statistically significant positive correlation between coaches’ scores on the Concussion Knowledge Index and the Concussion Attitudes Index, r = .43, p < .01. The results of this research indicate that while youth sport coaches report basic knowledge of concussions, there remain gaps in their education. This highlights the need for research to review current coaching curriculum, observe actual coaching behaviors, and to determine best practices for teaching coaches.

Postconcussion discharge advice does not improve concussion knowledge in a community sample

“…The current study found that approximately 80% of participants answered all CKI items correctly. This is (1) comparable to the findings from three prior US studies of physical education teachers, collegiate athletes and football coaches (eg, 82%27–29) and (2) higher than reported in studies of contact-sport athletes in the UK and South Africa (eg, 66%,19 67%,30 70%31); all of whom could be expected to be more knowledgeable about concussion than members of the general public. This could indicate that this study has a sample bias (eg, the volunteers were particularly interested in concussion).…”

Concussion knowledge, attitude and reporting intention in rugby coaches and high school rugby players

“…33 Coaches’ CK and CA have been explored in community rugby union, 46 rugby league 50 and across other sporting codes. 51–54 The most common tool utilised in previous studies is the Rosenbaum Concussion Knowledge and Attitudes Survey (RoCKAS), a reliable psychometric measure that provides an understanding of the respondent’s knowledge about and attitude towards concussion. 55 The RoCKAS has been previously validated as a reliable measure for CK in collegiate student athletes 56 and has also been used extensively to measure CK and CA in students 55–59 and athletes of various sporting backgrounds including ice hockey, 59 , 60 soccer, 61 , 62 and football 54 , 63 .…”

Research Letter: Concussion Knowledge Is Difficult to Predict From Self-Reported Exposure, Sports Participation, and Education

“…We found an average percent correct concussion knowledge score of 79%. Higher scores have been reported in physical education teachers, collegiate athletes, and football coaches (eg, 82%) 15 and lower scores have been found in contact-sport players in the United Kingdom and South Africa (eg, 66%). 14 Given that we used an unselected community sample, concussion knowledge in this group was relatively high.…”