In early February, the Pilchuck Soccer Alliance Force ‘02 Girls team, led by coaches Kelly Huestis and Tony Doll, began piloting a new approach to concussion education using pre-game safety huddles, alongside academic researchers from Seattle Children’s Hospital.
Upon hearing about the project, Coach Huestis seized the opportunity for his team to participate in this innovative approach to concussion education, known as the “One Team” project, led by Rachel Hays who is a Clinical Research Associate for Child Health, Behavior, & Development at Seattle Children's. Expanding upon the safety check-ins and pre-game huddles that already occur before each game, “One Team” safety huddles focus on the importance of teamwork in making sure no athlete plays with concussion symptoms.
“By collaborating with the Seattle Children’s team to help make the huddles better, Force ’02 Girls coaches Huestis and Doll have played an integral role in the project that is sure to make a real difference in concussion safety.”
Before four games during February and March North Puget Sound League (NPSL) play, the Force ’02 Girls Team and coaching staff circled up before the game with their opponents, opponent’s coaches, referees, and One Team Study Coordinator, Rachel Hays. During the huddles, the group was reminded not only about the collective responsibility and importance of removing an athlete from play to get checked out but also about how to identify the signs and symptoms of a concussion and the consequences of continuing to play.
“It was good education for both the players and the coaches. It’s an important topic for the safety of our players, and we were proud to be part of getting it started and laying the groundwork for the program to go statewide moving into next season.”
Rachel Hays is a clinical research associate in the Seattle Pediatric Concussion Research Collaborative. She is currently working on the CDC-funded “One Team” project that aims to shift the culture of safety in youth sports and build concussion awareness through the use of pre-game safety huddles. Learn more about the Seattle Pediatric Concussion Research Collaborative and the “One Team” project here »
