Grace Rico is an ASU Cronkite Student of Journalism student assigned to cover Greenway for AZPreps365.com

An estimated 1.6 million to 3.8 million concussions are caused by sports and activities each year in the United States, reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

With this statistic Concussions and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in sports, whether it is youth or professional, is a growing national concern for athletes.

CTE is a disease that affects people who suffer repeated concussions or brain injuries. According to the Mayo Clinic CTE, "causes the death of nerve cells in the brain." This can also lead to behavioral changes, mood disorders, mechanical inconsistencies such as being unable to walk and parkinsonism, dementia, and even death. 

As more awareness and conversations start about CTE and brain injuries in high-contact sports such as football, many high schools, such as Greenway High School, are committed to ensuring the safety of their student-athletes while also fostering competitive sports programs.

The Glendale Unified School District has implemented proactive measures to protect, educate, and raise awareness for their coaches, athletes, and parents about the seriousness of concussions and head injuries. 

At Greenway High School, athletes for all programs are required to complete “Brainbook,” a concussion training program, to be cleared for their sport. Along with the athletes, Greenway coaches must take the NFHS Concussion Course and classes about safety in youth sports.

These classes get coaches familiar with the symptoms of what a concussion looks like, so if they see it, they can let their trainers know. The CDC’s website shows that tackling in football is responsible for sixty-three percent of all concussions in high school football, followed by girls' soccer, and then boys' lacrosse. 

“We want our players to feel comfortable coming to us if they are experiencing any symptoms. It’s hard in football because we want kids to be physically aggressive, but obviously big hits to the head and neck are an immediate concern," Greenway head football coach Ed Cook said. 

We also pay close attention when a player hits their head hard on the ground. Head injuries are a major concern in our sport, and we have restricted contact in practice and have changed techniques in tackling and blocking to keep the head out as much as possible."

Ron Kordonowy is Greenway's athletic trainer, and he plays a vital role in the safety and rehabilitation of injured athletes.

With a long history at Greenway High School, he has made strong relationships with the coaches and students. He also manages the concussion protocol, working closely with coaches to ensure that all athletes are monitored. 

“If an athlete is exhibiting any symptoms during a game, I will pull them out of the game for the remainder with our coaches supporting this," Kordonowy said. "Afterward, I will have them scanned and run through our concussion test, and from there, that will be my starter guide before I allow anyone back in the competition. I monitor their progress and talk with the athletes and parents through this whole experience. Player safety will always come first.”

Parental communication is also key to the Greenway safety strategy. At the start of the school year, students who are interested in sports and their parents attend a parent meeting where Athletic Director Jeff Feldman and Kordonowy discuss concussions and player safety.

The two also encourage the parents and guardians to be by their students' sides while doing their concussion training so they can also be educated. This approach not only educates parents but also fosters a community dedicated to athlete wellbeing. The conversation of concussions has also been a conversation with the AIA (Arizona Interscholastic Association). 

“Concussions are a big part of the language that we talk about in our AIA Meetings and are a topic of great concern," Feldman said.

"More and more research comes out all the time, and it makes us more aware of what it is, the symptoms, the treatment, and the risks. It's not just a football thing. It can happen in any sport, and that's what we at the AIA meetings recognize. It has caused rules to be changed on the high school, college, and professional levels, and I believe this is a factor in why more people are staying out of some sports simply because of the risks for students. This is why we need as many protocols and safety measures as we have.”

As the fall sports season continues at Greenway High School, their commitment to concussion safety shows their administration's dedication to the health, safety, and well-being of their athletes. Greenway High School can foster competitive sports while also fostering a culture that is aware of the risks of brain injuries, CTE, and concussions.