Tackling training reducing concussions for Chiefs program

Football participation numbers are down throughout North America as parents worry about head injuries in their children, but the Chestermere Chiefs are doing something about.
While it can never been completely safe, the Chiefs have found that a training program for their coaches has greatly reduced the numbers of concussions suffered over the past couple of seasons.
As the Chiefs program is recruiting players for a bantam team, head coach Chris Bailey stresses that they are working hard at making the game as safe as possible for the players.
“All parents are concerned about concussions,” Bailey said. “It’s justified. Our coaches are certified safe contact. We’ve been reprogrammed to teach tackling without using your head. 
“We show them how to tackle without getting your head involved in the play.”
The training has worked. At the peewee level, they saw a big reduction in head injuries this past season.
“After having all of our coaches re-certified, we went from having eight concussions the first year to one borderline concussion last year,” Bailey said. 
There is still a risk of suffering a head injury in a sport like hockey or basketball as players are moving around with speed. One of the most under-publicized dangers in sport is with soccer, as players use their heads to move the ball.
So there is risk is any sport, but Bailey feels there is no more greater risk in youth football.
“We want to stress that parents don’t have to worry about their kids in football,” Bailey said. “You have just as great a risk getting a concussion in hockey as you do in football now. 
 “My son plays soccer, and every time he heads the ball I cringe. You are just as likely to get a concussion in soccer as you are in football now.
“Soccer is one of those sports that seems very, very slow to change.”