​When The Evidence
​Is Overwhelming

"Scientific literature has long shown that white matter changes can be the result of traumatic brain injury and/or concussion... Our study provides concrete support for the link between head impacts, white matter changes, buildup of p-tau, CTE, & dementia" https://t.co/nNuihoFgqH

— Dr Kathleen Bachynski (@bachyns) August 6, 2019

"years of play correlated with more severe white matter rarefaction and a greater phosphorylated tau burden in the dorsolateral frontal cortex" @kimberlyarchie @37919KJ @NFLObjectors https://t.co/dBptzPxWVn

— Concerned Mom (@ConcernedMom9) August 5, 2019

Stanford Study: “This is some of the first evidence, certainly in kids, to show disruption of the blood-brain barrier even in the absence of concussion,” said David Camarillo, PhD.https://t.co/GtLM99FTBG

— Chris Nowinski, Ph.D. (@ChrisNowinski1) September 20, 2019

“Adolescents with a history of concussion have been found to be up to 3.3 times more likely to experience depression in their lifetime than their uninjured counterparts” https://t.co/o4R1B5YPdv

— Julie Stamm, PhD, LAT (@JulieStammPhD) September 3, 2019

Just one season of playing football—even without a #concussion—can cause brain damage.

While this is now a familiar headline, this study found brain damage in college players in a novel region, the midbrain. You really don’t want damage there. https://t.co/mnSv56Ng8v

— Chris Nowinski, Ph.D. (@ChrisNowinski1) August 7, 2019

Researchers have long known about the connection between concussions sustained on the football field and CTE—but what about the hits that don’t result in a concussion? https://t.co/xe0kFZ4DRv

— Science Friday (@scifri) September 7, 2019

Gerald Grant, MD: “I think we’re ignoring many of these kids who are experiencing these injuries throughout the season but aren’t aware of them, or they have no symptoms."
Bullseye- just because your child doesn't have a concussion doesn't mean they aren't getting brain damage.

— Chris Nowinski, Ph.D. (@ChrisNowinski1) September 20, 2019

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And Industry Leaders Confess

The executive director of Pop Warner expressed the industry's stance: "First, we have a duty to football. This means too much to people & has for so long we can't turn our back on it. We figured out tobacco. We figured out asbestos. We'll figure this out." https://t.co/7pguZn5EUY

— Dr Kathleen Bachynski (@bachyns) August 23, 2019

Ignoring the dangers of head injuries is now being compared to the dangers of asbestos and tobacco... like it should have been for decades. pic.twitter.com/uMbtdooGxy

— FirefighterConcussionProtocol ~MatBlankenship (@FirefighterCon1) August 24, 2019

Nailed it. Reductions in morbidity and mortality related to asbestos and tobacco weren’t related to something those self-interested industries did. It was legislation, policy, and education to mitigate and cease their use.

— Todd Davenport (@sunsopeningband) August 23, 2019

Hey Everyone,
Exposure to football, a game, is being compared to asbestos exposure for kids by the exec of major feeder org for pro football. 10 years from now, let no one say 'we didn't know!'
Note: asbestos --> mesothelioma, cancer of the pleural space among other lung dzs. https://t.co/ZJUEyX7GFJ

— Adnan Hirad, PhD (@HiradScience) August 23, 2019

That statement should be enough for parents to understand that the Executive Director of Pop Warner cares more about preserving a game than about the safety of a child.

— Jim Hoffman (@JimH5) August 23, 2019

“If your child comes to you and tells you, ‘I want to smoke’. No matter how much you love that child, you don’t let that child smoke, but we’re talking about something more dangerous than smoking.”https://t.co/XKLm3qM0Wl

— Concerned Mom (@ConcernedMom9) August 20, 2019

---

When Schools Are Complicit

Why do we allow schoolteachers to run a violent revenue-generating public amusement that injures the brain of almost every student who participates?

Document: Links to 17 abstracts showing brain damage in HS football players, correlated with no. of hits. https://t.co/E1S9hxbDUW pic.twitter.com/xqxk7W96sj

— Kent Johnson (@37919KJ) August 18, 2019

The reality is that many of these organizations talk a good game about “safer than ever” but their pattern is exactly the opposite. In order: They first deny, then resist, finally react, and close with resentment. They do as little as possible because they want the game “pure”.

— Stephen T Casper (@TheNeuroTimes) August 23, 2019

The degenerative brain disease #CTE has been diagnosed in players from 147 college football programs, including:

-14/14 #BigTen schools
-12/14 #SEC schools
-11/12 #Pac12 schools

Check out our full College Football CTE infographic here: https://t.co/YlwO1TndUX pic.twitter.com/vxQOgYzWtu

— Concussion Legacy Foundation (@ConcussionLF) August 17, 2019

 And Children Are
At Risk

These tragedies are just too heartbreaking. A young child’s brain will change with contact isports. The outcomes from all those hard knocks are just not worth the overwhelming loss. https://t.co/ggnuzeb3Oc

— StopCTE.org (@StopCTE) August 23, 2019

RIP Alex Miller, Roane County, West Virginia
RIP Peter Webb, Southwest Covenant, Oklahoma

Both gave their ALL on Friday night for the greater glory of high school football.
Their sacrifices for The Game will be completely ignored by the NFL and NCAA.

— Kent Johnson (@37919KJ) September 15, 2019

"Boatwright is the second football player to die in Oklahoma in just two weeks. Peter Webb, a student at Southwest Covenant in Yukon, died after collapsing on the field during a football game." https://t.co/0W5d62OBUk

— Concerned Mom (@ConcernedMom9) September 25, 2019

"At least seven students between the ages of 12- and 18-years-old have died during sanctioned games and practices at their middle and high schools this season, according to media reports." https://t.co/IrWBePPXXx

— Concerned Mom (@ConcernedMom9) September 26, 2019

"Parents and coaches need to understand that you don’t actually have to hit your head to impact the brain. A blow to the body can transmit forces that cause a concussion or subconcussive damage, too." https://t.co/ZXDpnVEnt9

— Concerned Mom (@ConcernedMom9) September 7, 2019

Absolutely horrible: “The back of his head hit the ground as he made the tackle. The play looked routine & players and coaches didn't realize anything was wrong until Webb didn't get up from the tackle.” There was too much swelling on his brain to operate. https://t.co/RvTlaJ9t4H

— Dr Kathleen Bachynski (@bachyns) September 16, 2019

CBS finally acknowledges that 2 high school football player were fatally injured during games on Friday.

Let not the fantasies of football fanboys be interrupted by grim football reality on the days designated for televised football fun. https://t.co/zGplPvmrO2

— Kent Johnson (@37919KJ) September 17, 2019

Is there any other situation where a parent would be ok with their child being hit in the head 250 times in a month span of time? “One study that attached accelerometers to young players' helmets found they take around 250 hits to the head each season...”

— Patrick Tighe (@PatTighe) August 2, 2019

"Strength and Conditioning" is meant to maximize athletic performance in competitive athletes through intensive training.
It is not the same as Physical Education class, which is intended to promote lifelong physical fitness.

— Kent Johnson (@37919KJ) August 18, 2019

When Doctors Sponsor

There's a new $48 million high school football venue in Texas called CHILDREN'S HEALTH STADIUM. pic.twitter.com/3sMSwUgDIc

— Kent Johnson (@37919KJ) August 20, 2019

"There is real danger that if we misunderstand industry influence on scientific research, we can fail to recognize it."

— Robert Lustig MD (@RobertLustigMD) September 5, 2019

The "sports concussion research" industry is rife with conflicts of interests. It's critical for parents to be aware of financial entanglements that can influence researchers' positions. https://t.co/8WZrqZBWfA

— Ted Tatos (@TedTatos) September 26, 2019

#Corporate #sponsorships are NOT content neutral. They signal WHICH marketing opportunities are acceptable to an org. Given the cumulative health risks of tackle football, is partnering w/teams different (enough) from partnering w/cigarette companies? #bioethics #business #ethics https://t.co/OEfKPn1ZpV

— Alison Reiheld, PhD (@AlisonReiheld) August 26, 2019

The U.S. CPSC is launching a new research project on helmets & sports injuries.

Just a reminder: There's no way to keep your brain from moving inside your skull. Helmets only help protect against cuts & skull fractures, not brain injury.#TBIhttps://t.co/Fev98S8hRh

— pianobug (@pianobug) September 23, 2019

And $$$ Is
At Stake

High school football is a revenue center.
High schools exploit the "free" labor of economically naive players to generate gate receipts, concession money, corporate sponsorship and private donations. https://t.co/gJ5Q3EC5gn

— Kent Johnson (@37919KJ) August 9, 2019

"The NCAA’s corrupt business model is simple: have it both ways. The organization wants all the power that comes with being the boss, the owner, the employer, but none of the responsibilities that are expected in a healthy work environment."https://t.co/Un3uOy9p7O

— Nancy Skinner (@NancySkinnerCA) July 1, 2019

"According to state Department of Education figures, public spending on extracurricular activities for intermediate and high schools exceeds $400 million a year. Much of that goes for football, which requires vast amount of expensive equipment ..." https://t.co/OKoAoIWiQx

— Concerned Mom (@ConcernedMom9) September 2, 2019

If you pay property taxes, there's a good chance you subsidize a school football program. Which means your $$$ goes to funding something that the science overwhelmingly shows causes horrific brain damage. Football should be phased out of public life. If that makes you mad, tough

— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) August 25, 2019

"Everyone must account for his actions, and whatever we back with our money and time makes us morally responsible for the results." https://t.co/QvTrTlBHxb

— Concerned Mom (@ConcernedMom9) August 28, 2019

---

PREVENTION 
IS THE ONLY
​SOLUTION 

People have asked me for years: how do you make tackle football safer? The answer is simple, and also one people in the sport mostly don’t want to hear—play less tackle football! https://t.co/J4FPaajswk

— Patrick Hruby (@patrick_hruby) August 14, 2019

A school's first duty
​is the well-being of students.

​"I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure."

Dr. Savage: “The only cure we have for #concussion and brain injury right now is prevention.” #SBLIII #BrainHealthSummit

— Concussion Legacy Foundation (@ConcussionLF) February 2, 2019

---

BUT WHO WILL 
INTERVENE?

It says much that over the last 3 decades none of consensus documents on concussion in sports have thought to analyze the coercive pressures on athletes as a determinate in re-exposure. Not once have contracts for professional sports come up or protection of scholarships.

— Stephen T Casper (@TheNeuroTimes) August 16, 2019

"Furthermore, how many boys are pressured by parents, peers, coaches and the popular culture to make short-term decisions with all too often devastatingly painful, long-term consequences?" https://t.co/JnHFa56Ct1

— Concerned Mom (@ConcernedMom9) August 21, 2019

​INTENTIONAL INJURIES
ARE PREVENTABLE INJURIES

"What is the future of tackle football and of all collision sports? Do we accept head injury as inevitable and live with the chance that youth players when they grow up will face higher risk of emotional and cognitive challenges?" https://t.co/zUyaXSpOIn

— Concerned Mom (@ConcernedMom9) August 17, 2019

"... it is at our own peril if we continue to deny the reality that the collision sport of football leads brain injuries and that brain injuries can lead to devastating mental health issues." https://t.co/rP9pzIkp9G

— Concerned Mom (@ConcernedMom9) August 16, 2019

If doctors and teachers
won't speak up,
then who will?
​Will you?

Our new
informational pamphlets
can help start
a conversation.
Email us
info@saferoptions.org
​today to obtain one.​

​WE CAN CHANGE

We don’t change the culture around child rights in sports with an email, memo or tweet.

We change it through relationships, one conversation at a time. #momsonamission

— Archie v. Pop Warner 1.14.20 (@kimberlyarchie) August 25, 2019

“Nudging people into critical reflection is becoming ever more important, as malicious actors find more potent ways to use technology and social media to leverage the frailties of the human mind” via @GaryMarcus & @AnnieDuke https://t.co/Iaadpev5XB

— Jay Van Bavel (@jayvanbavel) August 31, 2019

Wausau, Wisconsin Youth Tackle Football program ends after 20+ years after interest plummets - only enough sign-ups to field 2 teams. Will be replaced by flag football, and already 150 children have signed up. #FlagFootballu14 https://t.co/N3NOXBMJCk

— Chris Nowinski, Ph.D. (@ChrisNowinski1) August 24, 2019

Good news Newton, MA middle schools Trade Pads for Flags
□□□

Parents say no thanks to head bashing game, times a changin.
Rightly so.

— I’m the “et al” in Archie v. Pop Warner (@JoCornell4) September 24, 2019

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