(KYTX) - A new football season is underway, and with it the risk of concussions.
As usual, local student athletes are undergoing physical workouts.
But some of them will also have to do mental drills.
KEYE TV's Jason Wheeler gives us a first look at a new effort in Austin to tackle the problem of brain injuries on the football field.
These school football players are hitting the practice field again, but they haven't started hitting each other yet. Before they put on the pads and go for full contact, they're teaming up with medical professionals for a potentially game changing strategy in combating concussions.
Football is a game of hard hits and occasionally concussions. In those cases, a helmet just isn't enough protection, so these football players with Murchison Middle School in Austin are about to become part of a pilot program with Dell Children's Medical Center. The program won't keep them from getting hit, but it just might help them recover better if they are.
Just like in drills, each player will be individually evaluated for different cognitive skills. Then, if they eventually suffer a concussion, the same tests can be administered, giving doctors a clear idea how the brain has been impacted and whether the student is ready to play again.
"It is a great opportunity for us as parents to be participating in this pilot program to be able to see a before and after of their brains to make sure our kids are safe," says Marvie Ellis, a parent of one of the football players in the program.
More awareness about her 7th grade sons' brain is a load off of Ellis' mind
"I think it's a concern for all parents when you are dealing with a contact sport," says Ellis.
Parent and football coach Mickey Bushong agrees.
"It's something fragile with these little guys and you don't want it to be a problem later in life," says Bushong.
Coach Bushong says he hopes the study will also help students to realize it's okay to sit out after taking tough hits -- instead of chancing a serious injury just to get back in the huddle.
