Concussions in Young Athletes: What Parents Need to Know

It’s the moment every sports parent dreads: watching your child take a hard hit to the head.

They get up. They shake it off. The coach asks if they’re okay. They nod and keep playing.

But that night, or the next day, or even three days later – something’s off.

🏃 Youth Sports & Concussion Risk

The reality: Concussions are one of the most common sports injuries in children and teens—especially in contact sports like:

• ⚽ Soccer (from headers and collisions)
• 🏈 Football
• 🏀 Basketball
• 🏒 Hockey
• 📣 Cheerleading
• 🤸 Gymnastics

But here’s what most parents don’t know: you don’t need to see your child lose consciousness for it to be a concussion.

⚠️ Symptoms Parents Miss

Many kids won’t report symptoms because they don’t want to be pulled from the game. Watch for:

PHYSICAL SIGNS:

• Headache or head pressure
• Dizziness or balance problems
• Nausea or vomiting
• Sensitivity to light or noise

COGNITIVE/BEHAVIORAL SIGNS:

• Feeling “foggy” or confused
• Memory problems
• More emotional than usual
• Changes in sleep patterns

When Symptoms Show Up Later

Here’s the tricky part: concussion symptoms can be delayed. Your child might seem perfectly fine right after the hit, but symptoms can appear:

• Hours later that same day
• The next morning
• Even 2-3 days after the injury

This is why monitoring is critical.

🚫 NO Return-to-Play Until Cleared

This is non-negotiable: If your child has a suspected concussion, they cannot return to sports until medically cleared by a healthcare provider.

Why? A second concussion before the first heals can cause Second Impact Syndrome—a rare but potentially fatal condition.

What We Do at Night Watch

At Night Watch, we specialize in pediatric care, including sports-related concussions:

• Comprehensive concussion evaluations
• Return-to-play protocols & clearances
• Gradual return-to-learn plans for school
• Parent education & monitoring guidance