Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Publication Date

Summer 7-29-2025

Abstract

Youth sports participation in the United States offers children and adolescents opportunities for physical activity, skill development, social interaction, and personal achievement. However, with sports comes the risk of injury, including concussions. Concussions can have serious long-term consequences such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). In response to the risks of concussions, New Mexico enacted a concussion law, NM Stat 22-13-31. In addition to this law, the New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA) and National Federation of High School Associations (NFHS) have also given guidance on how to manage concussions.

However, there is a gap in the literature concerning concussion education, best practices, and protocols, specifically as those pertain to NMAA-member high school varsity football head coaches and athletic directors. This study used a mixed-methods approach to explore the knowledge, best practices, and challenges faced by NMAA-member high school varsity head football coaches and athletic directors as it pertains to concussions. Surveys were sent to all NMAA-member high school varsity football head coaches and athletic directors. Nine athletic directors and 10 coaches participated in a follow-up semi-structured interview, in which the participants provided in-depth information and elaborated on and/or clarified their responses in the survey.

Keywords

Concussion protocol, concussion management, concussion challenges

Document Type

Dissertation

Language

English

Degree Name

Physical Education, Sports and Exercise Science

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences

First Committee Member (Chair)

John Barnes, Ph.D.

Second Committee Member

Todd Seidler, Ph.D.

Third Committee Member

Andrew Mooneyhan, Ph.D.

Fourth Committee Member

Mark LaSota, Ph.D.

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