In August the LA84 Foundation offered free tackling clinics for Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) football coaches. The clinics run by Bobby Hosea, founder of Train ‘Em Up Academy, taught coaches a tackling technique that significantly reduces head impact.
This past Monday football coaches and athletic directors from the LAUSD participated in an advanced concussion training clinic, part of a state-mandated effort to help reduce concussion-related issues for student athletes. In addition to the coaches and ADs, the clinic was attended by other LAUSD officials, former NFL players, professional wrestlers and rock star Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins, who is a board member for the Sports Legacy Institute.
From the Park Labrea News/ Beverly Press:
Chris Nowinski, the co-founder of the Sports Legacy Institute, which hosted the training, said the organization piloted the program in Chicago last year and trained more than 3,000 coaches. He also announced the creation of the California Concussion Coalition.
“We know we can do a better job combining services for our student athletes out there who are at risk for concussion,” Nowinski said. “There’s a lot of great programs out there in California, and we want to bring them together to work in partnership to make sure we’re giving these kids the best chance they have at succeeding on the field, and not have their careers shortened by concussions.”
And:
Though he is now a rock star, Corgan played sports in school and has been an avid Cubs fan for years. He has also started an independent wrestling federation called Resistance Pro, which is the first wrestling organization to have an open concussion policy.
“As a former student-athlete, I’m very sensitive to the issue of what it takes for a kid to have the courage to say, ‘I’m hurt.’ Back in my day, if you hurt your knee, they sit you on the sidelines. If you hurt your head, they send you right back in the game. And if you didn’t want to go back, the [coaches] said you weren’t tough,” Corgan said.
He said the issue of concussions is resulting in cultural change, and he praised the coaches in attendance for taking time out of their practices to discuss and learn about the topic.
“You’re going to save lives and affect lives in ways you probably don’t realize,” Corgan added.
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