A harsh reality of professional sport is head trauma and injuries to the brain, especially with the physical nature of many sports. North American sports leagues have begun taking action against these injuries, particularly the commonly occurring concussion. The risk of lawsuits and negative public opinion towards professional leagues have acted as catalysts for concussion awareness and prevention policies. However, it wasn’t until last week that the NHL became just the second professional league to take in-stadium action through concussion spotting.
A concussion spotter functions as an extra set of eyes to help identify a potential concussion shortly after it takes place. The NHL is officially set to become the second major professional sports league to introduce a concussion spotter to their venues. Each of the 30 NHL venues will have three newly hired concussion spotters for the upcoming hockey season, set to begin on Oct. 7.
These concussion spotters will have direct communication with coaching and medical staff on each team’s respective benches during games. The role of the NHL concussion spotter will be to notify team personnel in the event of a player showing any of their three pre-determined criteria that the spotter is expected to monitor. Upon recognition of any of the three danger signs, players can be removed from the ice to prevent further impacts. The NHL did not release which three signs these spotters will be looking for, but they have made it clear that these newly added concussion spotters will not be required to have any background in medicine, according to deputy commissioner Bill Daly.
The required expertise is the major difference in the concussion spotting policies issued between the NHL and the NFL. NFL concussion spotters are required to have medical backgrounds, which may be more of an asset when considering the nature of the sport. This NFL season is the fourth year of concussion spotting, and this year spotters have the new ability to stop a football game if they firmly believe that a player has suffered a concussion from head trauma. Although future plans have not been mentioned, in time the NHL may make changes to their policy to mirror the NFL, or go in a different direction to benefit hockey as a sport.
Both the NFL and NHL face ongoing lawsuits in which they have been accused of concealing the dangers of head traumas to their players. Retired veterans of the sports have demanded financial settlements as compensation for these acts. The introduction of spotting solidifies the NHL’s position, as the league can potentially protect itself from large payouts to future plaintiffs. This is a necessary act, considering the increased risks for neurological disorders later on in the careers and lives of concussion victims.
While open-field hits and body checks may be a part of professional hockey and football, they are often the reasons why we see our favourite players getting concussions. Concussion spotting is a way for fans and players to know that the officials behind their beloved sports are taking a strong interest in concussion prevention.
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The Ontarion publishes independent, student-produced news, opinion, and commentary for University of Guelph students so that they can make informed decisions in their lives. To do this, The Ontarion provides learning opportunities and training in journalism, media production, leadership, board governance, and other aspects of nonprofit news.
The Ontarion is the University of Guelph’s independent student newspaper. It began in 1951 as part of the Ontario Agricultural College and then began to represent the entire University of Guelph once it amalgamated in 1964. The Ontarion incorporated in May 1970 as The Ontarion, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation registered with the province of Ontario.