This Week in High School Sports: 3/19/19
March 19, 2019
This week's show highlights the buzzer-beating shot by Ypsilanti Lincoln in its Division 1 boys basketball championship game victory over Detroit U-D Jesuit, hands out Game Balls to New Haven's Romeo Weems and Detroit Edison's Rickea Jackson, discusses use of instant replay in high school basketball and closes with an example of keeping proper perspective in educational athletics.
The 5-minute program, powered by MI Student Aid, leads off each week with feature stories from around the state from the MHSAA’s Second Half or network affiliates. "Be The Referee," a 60-second look at the fine art of officiating, comes in the middle of the show and is followed by a closing MHSAA "Perspective."
Listen to this week's show by Clicking Here.
Past editions
March 12: Lower Peninsula Division 1 Boys Swimming & Diving Finals, 1986 Class B boys basketball finish - Listen
March 5: Bronson bowling champions, Individual Wrestling Finals impressions - Listen
February 26: Lowell wrestling, basis for MHSAA's broadcast regulations - Listen
February 19: Traverse City Bay Reps hockey's Jake Stevenson, MHSAA Basketball Finals rematches - Listen
February 12: Midland Dow basketball's Molly Davis, small-town support for the Mio Thunderbolt - Listen
February 5: Alpena basketball's Chris DeRocher, sportsmanship shown on the court - Listen
January 29: Flint Kearsley bowler Imari Blond, Lansing Sexton's 1959 boys basketball run - Listen
January 22: Warren Woods-Tower wrestling, poor sportsmanship faced by officials - Listen
January 15: East Kentwood boys basketball, reflections from visiting a small-town gym - Listen
January 8: Niles Brandywine wrestling inspiration, parental sportsmanship - Listen
January 1: Unionville-Sebewaing three-sport star Rylee Zimmer, instructions for educational athletics - Listen
December 25: St. Ignace student official Jackson Ingalls, values of high school sports - Listen
December 18: Eastern Thumb Area co-op hockey, consequences of football playoff expansion - Listen
December 11: Battle of the Fans VIII, MHSAA.tv's growing list of broadcasts - Listen
December 4: New officials in southeastern Michigan, what college coaches are looking for in recruits - Listen
November 27: Defensive performances from 11-Player Football Finals, experiences at Ford Field - Listen
November 20: 8-player football champions Morrice and Rapid River, power of giving thanks - Listen
November 13: Port Huron Northern football, broadcasting one of the busiest championship weekends of the MHSAA school year - Listen
November 6: Three-time cross country champs, MIS as LP XC Finals home - Listen
October 30: Calumet football, changes to the MHSAA Transfer Rule - Listen
October 23: Jackson High football, "Football Week in Michigan" - Listen
October 16: Selection Sunday football primer, past playoff expansion - Listen
October 9: Pickford football, teams that finished undefeated/untied/unscored upon on the gridiron - Listen
October 2: Grand Rapids official Dolly Konwinski, "You’ve Got To Be Kidding Me" on a federal court case made by the parents of a kid who didn’t make the cut - Listen
September 25: Bronson volleyball's Kiera Lasky, the real blue-chip participants in high school sports - Listen
September 18: Hanover-Horton runner Judy Rector, countering a growing shortage of high school game officials - Listen
September 11: Alpena soccer coach Tim Storch, balancing interests of all high school athletes - Listen
September 4: Radio stations celebrating 77 years of high school sports broadcasts, and radio's importance in educational athletics - Listen
August 28: Forest Hills Central football's Tate Hallock, keeping perspective amid changing times - Listen
August 21: Lansing Everett football coach Mike Smith, MHSAA executive director transition - Listen
Be Proactive with Concussions
October 22, 2019
Henry Ford Health System
Most people have seen the headlines about concussions as a common sports injury, and it's natural that parents may be concerned for their young athlete.
A large misconception in sports is that previous concussions are to be blamed for ongoing headaches, blurred visions and memory loss, among other symptoms.
“It’s really important to think about concussions in concert with overall brain health,” says Jeffrey Kutcher, M.D., a sports neurologist who treats athletes at the Henry Ford Concussion and Sports Neurology Clinic. “Concussions can be concerning, but they shouldn’t be looked at in a vacuum. The best way to prevent brain injury begins before the injury occurs.”
One way to do that is to consult with your child’s doctor or a sports neurologist for an annual evaluation. A sports neurologist focuses on managing sports-related brain and nervous system injuries and conditions in athletes, such as concussions, post-concussion syndrome, peripheral nerve injuries, migraines, epilepsy, and more.
“Having an annual evaluation of your athlete’s brain function when they are healthy and uninjured can help diagnose and treat issues when they arise,” says Dr. Kutcher.
Results from the baseline test can be used as an important tool for comparison by a qualified healthcare professional later if an athlete has a suspected concussion.
Best Practices to Ensure Your Athlete Stays Safe
Dr. Kutcher shares these tips for parents to make sure you’re keeping your child’s brain health and safety – not just their athletic performance – at the forefront:
• Get a brain health baseline. A proper baseline test should include a personal and family neurological history, with a focus on any active issues. It is important to note any neurological conditions that may influence concussion recovery, such as ADHD, depression, anxiety, or migraine headaches.
• Teach your kid to listen to her or his body. With any sport, there is a calculated risk to play. Teaching kids to listen to and be honest about how their body is feeling is the best way to prevent and treat injuries.
• In the event of an injury, look for the signs. Within 24 hours after an injury, an athlete should be evaluated if they are experiencing:
· Headaches
· Fatigue
· Dizziness and nausea
· Changes in sleep habits
· Trouble with memory
· Confusion
· Irritability and anxiety
· Light sensitivity
• Brain injuries don’t just occur with a blow to the head. They can also occur from falls, car accidents, or even through whiplash. If your child is experiencing any symptoms, be sure to consult your physician.
• Brain health is more than just concussions. If your athlete is complaining of chronic headaches, migraines, dizziness, memory or mood issues, there may be an underlying issue.
“There is no magic number of concussions a brain can sustain. Each individual is different,” Dr. Kutcher explains. “The impact severity and recovery time can greatly affect an athlete’s brain. By getting a baseline before the injury, we can establish a goal to work towards in recovery.”
Want to learn more? Henry Ford Health System sports medicine experts are treating the whole athlete, in a whole new way. From nutrition to neurology, and from injury prevention to treatment of sports-related conditions, they can give your athlete a unique game plan.
Visit henryford.com/sports or call (313) 972-4216 for an appointment within 24 business hours.