THE IT'ICIIIET{GE OF GERUIGAT SPII'IE INJURY HIIIES TIIE RISKS
THEIT'ICIIIET{GE OFGERUIGAT SPII'IEINJURYHIIIESTIIERISKS Jon Heck, CoordinatorofAthletic Training Riclmnl Srr'rktrtt College \TERYTh\\'YIARS THE PROBI F]\,1IS RBDISCOVIRED thc b\ r.eN i crl stj rrei ntrr) i n t hc \ 1: L. I l{^r 'r ' ncdi ! r'ecenll) il *rs D.tnI I io.s lirebrckc. Rcggic u(NrD Tel e\i \i ,n)ncL* ork\sl nN th. hi t nnme$u\ri rj e\ rn d ( or ics r pp. r r i n ne$\frF^ud n' rgu' n.\ B utthei ni nt i \ xl \! ) \ t , '1, ! ) d rs o unnrru re l ecrl l errl11 . \ nor ur.d t(r educi rethe nr or l I cr r n nnrnj t\d[r rherej ' rI j d.D ti l rcd.ru{' nr dre\eir r r ] e: . \ o on. srys. R e!!i e B r(^\i r rudc LhcmL\ k. ol l ow eri .ghl! hex, latcon tacl N o onesr)s Thc\ei nj Lri .\ .rn b. fr.\e.re d b\ keet ingr hc " The,errc 1ro trrg.di .\ h.r.: dr eh. ged\ ot r r e hcadup rr conracr inju+. rnd the nrl:ed\ ('i !nolh.r misscdopNft!nit\ nr edn.rle rlre N i r sl rl lhrr. not.. rnrurl .ntcdthcco!..1 mc\ s! gcm t het oor f' rl i Irrcl i l i oncrr B ! thi sI nexi rtheeoach.' .ph)cN. ot li. r ! l\ r nd rdrni sl rN l or.Th. mcdi r.i i l t i i rcl l dcdhcrcttu . b. c! u\ c it h$ I g.ert on theofLtri o.\ol rl reprrcti ti orcN.l1s t r . cnoycr : r ) ' nl l u.n.c )errs ri nccD r Jd' Torg rnd hi \ c,)l l erel c!.nrtrl inr cdt h. r clxr ! in \ rp bcl \ccn ccN L.rl\fLnei i j u,i c\. r\i rl l oel i ng.Nndhcld do\ r f .tnrl rcl A . nd ).1 thctc.hnrque refhl i s i LerfnnnDr \ pc. t ol li) ot br ll Qrlle slDrPl).th.s. rrc thc 1r.t\ . E r.l r l l nrcr pl !\.r nr.k.s.orl x.r si rh ri \ l , d{r , Nn h. n\ ks j hr..,... . I t,.. . The a\l !l l ,)rd;rgm.chrni snof i nru\ doe\r,)t d i\ cr i, I inr t cir ) ,nl enrir,, Lfrrnl cnrutlsp.u.r. i e{' h i n fxful rss ( r k. r . . )bu cai spefta ,i re,Itrcr ol \our o$n tel nr(r.k I Deiii\ t l) , ( l) S p.rri rg l :ks pefl l i rr 1,, 1acl l .rs.brl l (rnrcA . r.d blu. ker \ ' S p.rri rg i s nhd dai l ei ({ r\ ro rhcpk\.r $ho \f.r ^ ' ' Kc.prn! the hexd!l) 11contrct potccrs thc n..l( ' l nrl rdti ng.orncr$i l , rl re\l url dcr$hrl .kccpi igr h. ne. k l. .\l .D si or ri nurl l \ el i ,ri nrl c\th. fi sk of p!ful ysis. 'I hcrc Nr. s1e..l \ubtle Lrtor! that hryc inpcd.d th..tle.ri\e c(inulDrcNtionot lherecof.ejrl\ t. thc fqrtbrll connnunrry.
A rpEARlN6ltlTclt (l ne pdned' i \ thercuc nrur-.nrr.nchcd.onnor xt r o. \ , ilai( l nrgtherennspetui fEi n i ootbrl l Onc i s th. hi r n : t be ir t ef r i, D, l lo bc x spcr': Arorher i\ rnl\ LacklcNcrn spcr A dld i\ sperf rg onl ) o..ufs N hen i fs r hre hi l . l h.sc dc rl l m iscon. ef r iof \ | dcl ]' rcspcafi ng rs h.i d do$d con(rct.| [i r rnd sinr plc.lr t . r r i. f r ] or umtcnl ' onrl .i t s r \l ti r If i r' \ I brl l cr[n!. bl( ] ck. r or . . kle. 11\ r sp.ar.ll.rd do$n co r.r ai rpcrrin! rrc onc rnd ar. \x.r. l n l ool bl l l ci rl $ l hough.\l )erri i i grnd hcrd dot r n. onr ! . r ! r . ol l cnt\ro cnl i r.l ! di i tcr.ntenti l i e\.I hcl l e\eth$c p ar usu ion. . f r \ \"rtL0
It,n h n It
\r l i
abouLspearinghaye hinderedirs eliminationlronr fbolbllt. Whenrhe comnunity is talking about decreasingthe incidenceof 'nedical spearing.thefootballpracddoDerlhink we aretrlking abouttatehits by tac}lcB. It\ a diilicntr mind set ro alter.It,s just this nisconcep troDol a spearrhatis rhecrux ofthe probtem.perhapswe shoulddo dwaywitn the war on spearing.andjust tocuson climinarirg headdown contact.Thal mlv 8er us o!c. somemajorhufdles.
pult)sls. This tr. slatesinto .50 injuriesfbr evcry 100.000partici p.mts Thosclre low numbeN.Conbinc this $ ith rhefabulousnjduc ion n calastrophicncck lnju.ies sinccthe nrle changeiD t976 aDd thingslook evenrosier..,14'etl. ifrhe numbeNarethartow.rhenlherc can'l be loo muchof spcrringproblem.,.Righlt Not Decesslfily.Thc fealily is the conelationbetweenspearing incidents and incidenls of paralysis is very tow Rescrfchers Hodgsonand Thomashdve srabdj i.. . . rhe numbcf of ldalyzed lT'r AII Be!r, A6t(lt ARD9 pl .\e^ cr i denrl )dn-. nur..nr,(( tu.ero i dJ ,| | t)i rg In The speadngpenahyis riDiqueir foorball.Most penatricsprotect I ^ or hi rrr! $i rl ,neherJo.sn \or e\eD fm;-do" r.^ r r - r . , J r . u ne fl a )e _ li. n r hc nr qr J t .rn , h (. s trJ r. $ (n p ro| e..r in axiallordnrgto lhe cerlicatspine.but.iusrabouteverycen.icil spile (nro rce J.r. rr e lracturehdsrcsulrediiom headdo\rncontaclrnd axiatlolding. ^nt r J c lo -d rrtr\ rh -r p e nrtr(, - ttr)(r to r h . Don'l be lboled. lt can hrppen hefc.It happensat lbout l0 dit owD protedion.The primary intent of 1hepenattyis to protectthe ferent bigh schoolscrery ]eaf. Elery rinre a player mdkeshead plalcf who spcaniiom p.falysi\. This pulsrhecoachin an unflmil iff positioi. Prcrectinglis plaler\ mcanspenalizinghis team.That do\rn contacthe rolls rhedice.And thercis no lradeoff fof i normrl l erhh) l ,te.D e' ero!,. ctrr onr..\^ph)re!.,Ji rg rtp r!Ju. , . , u. N a bit ol paradox.This p!.ador h$ in tu lcd o anoner nscon ceptionaboutspcafing. II's conrmonlythonghtrhcspenringpenalryis desjgncdtoprorcct coachnrgslaff wirh lhc samecnphasis!s olTensireand dctensile the playcr who is speared.lD a survey I did ot' Ne$ lefsey high strategics. That is the ultimatecommitrnentto your playeis. schoolofiicials ovcr l/:l felr this sas the primuy or tne tuQose pcDahy The NFL rcirtorces this nressageweekly when they fine \pcanngonly ifit endugersan opponem.This tiesbackinro the misIn a 1996article.I csrinrared rherewcre 200 spcar durinSone LrDderstandrng of $hat consi tes i spear.Ahhouehrhe rLrleshould teanr'sscasoi(9 and2.8 Driltionhcaddo{D conoclsnartonSamet l rur cc 5 0 h Dl. , ) e. . r hJ ph\ , I $ rfrl e p ,.J -\ .\^ i | (n n J knl .111, bet$cenrackleN.nd ball ca eN. This trarsiatcdiDto I caseof n rLJ l \\\ i \ rh cir hlc r c$h. s fe a R ' rr,d-rphpj .tor c!e12j t.,/rr.pc:r. B J\.J un,,nr1c,- ur nner .J. l ,rci .Jruo .hu.l d l ,r! ut qr..ri pe;r, t" r p\er) |l. r r E ' .\( gJrre. rrc\/ J( rou..rr AND TIIE c\r' I r' (. . I b-n B ur I re) ,tu oenul. . r r 'INUEY thc point.The lnjuricsrre fc$ rnd rhc exposufesaremany. 'AV' Then is also muchworli lhal canbe done with ibolba officials. In my research.I ha\e iould held down contactoccu6 on.lt% I clD counl on rhreefingersthe nunrbe.ofspeadngpenaltiesI hale \eeDcalled in my lifetime.In 1998.I once agaiDwarchedanother of lhe tlals during ! high schoolglDrc. That is once in e!er). ?:+ enlrc seasons wonh ofhigh schoot.cotlcge.and pro tborballwilh- pldys.Headdo$n conti.r (,ccuredoD-1Sr.of the tulntug flay; and out seeingone stearing penahycrued. The NJ suney found thar 37% of lhe kick .elLnrs.Trcklen madchead-downcontacion 26% 87% of rheoiTicialscallcdorly beNlee.0 3 speadngpenaltiesfbr an 01 the plays.Defensiyeback5lnd lincbackerra.counledtbr 72% of Ballca es spelrcdon bet$.eent6.D.l20ti of enrrc season(aDave.ascof27 glmes) This means!D officill calted the defensiyespears. a paufy I spelringpenaliyin e!er) t0 gamcsworkcd.That witl do lhe plays.RuDningbacksaccounred for E5?.ofball canicf slEab. Ball carjcr spe.ringis int.resrtn-s thardefcrs,!e prdye^ ucrc 1irlleto decr€ascthe lncidcDceof spcadng. 4 linrcs morc likely ro hir sirh rhetr hcrd do$D \rhen rlckling ! Thc sune) aho re!ealcdseveralconrradictions. One hatfofthe spearinsball carier I bclievea spearineball canicf influencesra;l oilicials ielt a spcafhad to be inrentioDat ro be a lendlty. while rhe _ger loser'ftan thebalt cirier or takehilnon in limila. tash othe.hllf indicatcdinrenl$as not a fddor. Oler:10q.ofthe officials lerslo i .n. B o.h L\uJl \ r(.u r I h( rJ.^.r J.upri rr nr. hrJd J.. . , JJr . ielt decidirg inlent madethc nle diffictrlr to enibne. The inrentof the spedrappeared to be a major stumblingblock for oiTicialsOnh Tnr..on.i Jc.qe.l r n r(.< J.h l nJi np hi rJ.,.e. " .- I n. , r r likely ro speu rvhenrackli.g bctow the wiisr. w lehJl l u t rl -eo nr . . . nJ r f r e d rh (r s e r( tr\e \ ro -a . .F d rr8 o. nJ l r)rn .rJ r hler c qlo- - ! r d e l r-ti ).F 1 r(. tr^ n i L d t.q -. ]IIAKIIT6n{E 6AtttE,AFER ^ t.he officialsfelt a headof necl injury could occurresardtess of an ath When I bcganthis rcsearchon spearinSin 1990,I felt rhe inciA Lorlisianasuncy lbund that nearl)'t/3 ofhigh schoolflaters denceof 8,12 oteslroplic injuries per ycar $erc inhereDti| the drd not know it wrs iltcSalro kckle wi r rhe10! ot' rhehetmetor ruD spon.I Do lonecf betiev. that is me. We raditioDllly ha\e ibcnsed h( " J ll . T l ,J .. .rn ,pr n o r l J o o e n uF I L.m $lel) on the nunrberol tir.es a spearresultsin cllaslrophicuriury. The iimc his comero focuson the ttequencyof hclu do$! conracr. \ | I n r l ^ rp e \I lal( r h. ' tiLnr L o u .u J o c d l r.-: t\ .....-rc !J J lng clipping. or SrabbiDSthe tlcernrsk penatlies.Why is And 2 8 millionspeirsindjcares thereisplenryof roon tb. inprovenenl. -holding. Il standsro rcasonftdr a reductionin thc cause(head-do$rcon_ Ih,rl? Perhapsit sbecruselhesepcnaltie\ue eniofcedregutaflyduring grnres.Thc spearingpenall) is not. lt s nry coDrenlionrhat an tact) lill fu hcr reducc the cfttct (ccfvical spine irrclure). enrorccnrenr lelel of 3,4 spearingcals pcr lame wonld influence lDtentionll and uDintentioialheld down contacl b) tackte*, ba co.chesto spendmore time educltir! and pmcticjngcorred rech- !J1i er-. " nd l .l o(l e , \s rcnrtr(J , .pri uu.In | ,) J, ,.,1i . g r . . r . q l oq,nerr\ r)pc nl l -LdJd^snrunJ... tu renJi n'quewjth their players. rr .or lJt . . . . dstressingnrisuscofiiformation. Regardless ofrhe iniury rutc.al is nurqel l i n ro^rbr,l., l o , x. rh
A rpEARlN6ltlTclt (l ne pdned' i \ thercuc nrur-.nrr.nchcd.onnor xt r o. \ , ilai( l nrgtherennspetui fEi n i ootbrl l Onc i s th. hi r n : t be ir t ef r i, D, l lo bc x spcr': Arorher i\ rnl\ LacklcNcrn spcr A dld i\ sperf rg onl ) o..ufs N hen i fs r hre hi l . l h.sc dc rl l m iscon. ef r iof \ | dcl ]' rcspcafi ng rs h.i d do$d con(rct.| [i r rnd sinr plc.lr t . r r i. f r ] or umtcnl ' onrl .i t s r \l ti r If i r' \ I brl l cr[n!. bl( ] ck. r or . . kle. 11\ r sp.ar.ll.rd do$n co r.r ai rpcrrin! rrc onc rnd ar. \x.r. l n l ool bl l l ci rl $ l hough.\l )erri i i grnd hcrd dot r n. onr ! . r ! r . ol l cnt\ro cnl i r.l ! di i tcr.ntenti l i e\.I hcl l e\eth$c p ar usu ion. . f r \ \"rtL0
It,n h n It
\r l i
abouLspearinghaye hinderedirs eliminationlronr fbolbllt. Whenrhe comnunity is talking about decreasingthe incidenceof 'nedical spearing.thefootballpracddoDerlhink we aretrlking abouttatehits by tac}lcB. It\ a diilicntr mind set ro alter.It,s just this nisconcep troDol a spearrhatis rhecrux ofthe probtem.perhapswe shoulddo dwaywitn the war on spearing.andjust tocuson climinarirg headdown contact.Thal mlv 8er us o!c. somemajorhufdles.
pult)sls. This tr. slatesinto .50 injuriesfbr evcry 100.000partici p.mts Thosclre low numbeN.Conbinc this $ ith rhefabulousnjduc ion n calastrophicncck lnju.ies sinccthe nrle changeiD t976 aDd thingslook evenrosier..,14'etl. ifrhe numbeNarethartow.rhenlherc can'l be loo muchof spcrringproblem.,.Righlt Not Decesslfily.Thc fealily is the conelationbetweenspearing incidents and incidenls of paralysis is very tow Rescrfchers Hodgsonand Thomashdve srabdj i.. . . rhe numbcf of ldalyzed lT'r AII Be!r, A6t(lt ARD9 pl .\e^ cr i denrl )dn-. nur..nr,(( tu.ero i dJ ,| | t)i rg In The speadngpenahyis riDiqueir foorball.Most penatricsprotect I ^ or hi rrr! $i rl ,neherJo.sn \or e\eD fm;-do" r.^ r r - r . , J r . u ne fl a )e _ li. n r hc nr qr J t .rn , h (. s trJ r. $ (n p ro| e..r in axiallordnrgto lhe cerlicatspine.but.iusrabouteverycen.icil spile (nro rce J.r. rr e lracturehdsrcsulrediiom headdo\rncontaclrnd axiatlolding. ^nt r J c lo -d rrtr\ rh -r p e nrtr(, - ttr)(r to r h . Don'l be lboled. lt can hrppen hefc.It happensat lbout l0 dit owD protedion.The primary intent of 1hepenattyis to protectthe ferent bigh schoolscrery ]eaf. Elery rinre a player mdkeshead plalcf who spcaniiom p.falysi\. This pulsrhecoachin an unflmil iff positioi. Prcrectinglis plaler\ mcanspenalizinghis team.That do\rn contacthe rolls rhedice.And thercis no lradeoff fof i normrl l erhh) l ,te.D e' ero!,. ctrr onr..\^ph)re!.,Ji rg rtp r!Ju. , . , u. N a bit ol paradox.This p!.ador h$ in tu lcd o anoner nscon ceptionaboutspcafing. II's conrmonlythonghtrhcspenringpenalryis desjgncdtoprorcct coachnrgslaff wirh lhc samecnphasis!s olTensireand dctensile the playcr who is speared.lD a survey I did ot' Ne$ lefsey high strategics. That is the ultimatecommitrnentto your playeis. schoolofiicials ovcr l/:l felr this sas the primuy or tne tuQose pcDahy The NFL rcirtorces this nressageweekly when they fine \pcanngonly ifit endugersan opponem.This tiesbackinro the misIn a 1996article.I csrinrared rherewcre 200 spcar durinSone LrDderstandrng of $hat consi tes i spear.Ahhouehrhe rLrleshould teanr'sscasoi(9 and2.8 Driltionhcaddo{D conoclsnartonSamet l rur cc 5 0 h Dl. , ) e. . r hJ ph\ , I $ rfrl e p ,.J -\ .\^ i | (n n J knl .111, bet$cenrackleN.nd ball ca eN. This trarsiatcdiDto I caseof n rLJ l \\\ i \ rh cir hlc r c$h. s fe a R ' rr,d-rphpj .tor c!e12j t.,/rr.pc:r. B J\.J un,,nr1c,- ur nner .J. l ,rci .Jruo .hu.l d l ,r! ut qr..ri pe;r, t" r p\er) |l. r r E ' .\( gJrre. rrc\/ J( rou..rr AND TIIE c\r' I r' (. . I b-n B ur I re) ,tu oenul. . r r 'INUEY thc point.The lnjuricsrre fc$ rnd rhc exposufesaremany. 'AV' Then is also muchworli lhal canbe done with ibolba officials. In my research.I ha\e iould held down contactoccu6 on.lt% I clD counl on rhreefingersthe nunrbe.ofspeadngpenaltiesI hale \eeDcalled in my lifetime.In 1998.I once agaiDwarchedanother of lhe tlals during ! high schoolglDrc. That is once in e!er). ?:+ enlrc seasons wonh ofhigh schoot.cotlcge.and pro tborballwilh- pldys.Headdo$n conti.r (,ccuredoD-1Sr.of the tulntug flay; and out seeingone stearing penahycrued. The NJ suney found thar 37% of lhe kick .elLnrs.Trcklen madchead-downcontacion 26% 87% of rheoiTicialscallcdorly beNlee.0 3 speadngpenaltiesfbr an 01 the plays.Defensiyeback5lnd lincbackerra.counledtbr 72% of Ballca es spelrcdon bet$.eent6.D.l20ti of enrrc season(aDave.ascof27 glmes) This means!D officill calted the defensiyespears. a paufy I spelringpenaliyin e!er) t0 gamcsworkcd.That witl do lhe plays.RuDningbacksaccounred for E5?.ofball canicf slEab. Ball carjcr spe.ringis int.resrtn-s thardefcrs,!e prdye^ ucrc 1irlleto decr€ascthe lncidcDceof spcadng. 4 linrcs morc likely ro hir sirh rhetr hcrd do$D \rhen rlckling ! Thc sune) aho re!ealcdseveralconrradictions. One hatfofthe spearinsball carier I bclievea spearineball canicf influencesra;l oilicials ielt a spcafhad to be inrentioDat ro be a lendlty. while rhe _ger loser'ftan thebalt cirier or takehilnon in limila. tash othe.hllf indicatcdinrenl$as not a fddor. Oler:10q.ofthe officials lerslo i .n. B o.h L\uJl \ r(.u r I h( rJ.^.r J.upri rr nr. hrJd J.. . , JJr . ielt decidirg inlent madethc nle diffictrlr to enibne. The inrentof the spedrappeared to be a major stumblingblock for oiTicialsOnh Tnr..on.i Jc.qe.l r n r(.< J.h l nJi np hi rJ.,.e. " .- I n. , r r likely ro speu rvhenrackli.g bctow the wiisr. w lehJl l u t rl -eo nr . . . nJ r f r e d rh (r s e r( tr\e \ ro -a . .F d rr8 o. nJ l r)rn .rJ r hler c qlo- - ! r d e l r-ti ).F 1 r(. tr^ n i L d t.q -. ]IIAKIIT6n{E 6AtttE,AFER ^ t.he officialsfelt a headof necl injury could occurresardtess of an ath When I bcganthis rcsearchon spearinSin 1990,I felt rhe inciA Lorlisianasuncy lbund that nearl)'t/3 ofhigh schoolflaters denceof 8,12 oteslroplic injuries per ycar $erc inhereDti| the drd not know it wrs iltcSalro kckle wi r rhe10! ot' rhehetmetor ruD spon.I Do lonecf betiev. that is me. We raditioDllly ha\e ibcnsed h( " J ll . T l ,J .. .rn ,pr n o r l J o o e n uF I L.m $lel) on the nunrberol tir.es a spearresultsin cllaslrophicuriury. The iimc his comero focuson the ttequencyof hclu do$! conracr. \ | I n r l ^ rp e \I lal( r h. ' tiLnr L o u .u J o c d l r.-: t\ .....-rc !J J lng clipping. or SrabbiDSthe tlcernrsk penatlies.Why is And 2 8 millionspeirsindjcares thereisplenryof roon tb. inprovenenl. -holding. Il standsro rcasonftdr a reductionin thc cause(head-do$rcon_ Ih,rl? Perhapsit sbecruselhesepcnaltie\ue eniofcedregutaflyduring grnres.Thc spearingpenall) is not. lt s nry coDrenlionrhat an tact) lill fu hcr reducc the cfttct (ccfvical spine irrclure). enrorccnrenr lelel of 3,4 spearingcals pcr lame wonld influence lDtentionll and uDintentioialheld down contacl b) tackte*, ba co.chesto spendmore time educltir! and pmcticjngcorred rech- !J1i er-. " nd l .l o(l e , \s rcnrtr(J , .pri uu.In | ,) J, ,.,1i . g r . . r . q l oq,nerr\ r)pc nl l -LdJd^snrunJ... tu renJi n'quewjth their players. rr .or lJt . . . . dstressingnrisuscofiiformation. Regardless ofrhe iniury rutc.al is nurqel l i n ro^rbr,l., l o , x. rh
