A Mayo View: Growing concerns over concussion in sport are far from alarmist

The government needs to get serious about forcing national sports organisations like the GAA, IRFU and the FAI to be more proactive in dealing with the ever-present threat of concussion in contact sports.

Those watching the debate on Kate Hannon’s RTÉ One current affairs programme, Upfront, on February 12 last were left with the clear impression that enough is not being done to protect players of all ages and codes in that regard.

First and foremost, the IRFU and the FAI did not respond to an invitation to participate in the debate while the GAA’s representative, Dr. Kevin Moran, was, in the view of this writer, far from convincing in his arguments and he eventually and disappointingly resorted to the claim: "This is getting very alarmist.”

In fairness to Dr. Moran and the GAA Medical Committee, they have put in place the strictest of guidelines in regard to reducing the risk of concussion.

But the level of enforcement and oversight, as witnessed by those regulary attending games or watching them on TV, are far from satisfactory in Gaelic games – and the same can be said of rugby and soccer.

The compelling point by concussion expert, Professor Colin Doherty, that “repeated blows to the brain cause significant immediate, medium term and long term probems” cannot be ignored because the science is there to support his analysis.

Clare ladies Gaelic football star Laurie Ryan told of the severe impact caused to her daily life as a result of suffering concussion on the field of play.

"If I'd known then what I know now, I'd be in a much better place," she revealed, a reference to the fact that players are not made fully aware of the risks they are taking.

Former Irish rugby international Shane Byrne correctly stated much has already been done to address the issue. "We used to go and beat the tar out of each other at training and those days are gone now," he stated, adding that not all players who suffer concussions are prone to problems in later life.

But even if it’s happening to a relatively small percentage of players, which it is, then surely that's a good reason to address the issue for everybody.

Chief sports writer with The Sunday Times, David Walsh, put it bluntly and accurately when he observed: “We need a law that says you cannot have kids bashing each other in training and damaging their brains.”

It is not just blows to the head that cause brain damage, he stated, as repeated blows to the body also cause distress within the brain system.

Walsh emphasised it is up to the government, which funds the various sporting bodies, to ensure such laws are put in place and implemented.

It was disappointing that Minister of State Josepha Madigan was reluctant to fully embrace this argument, but hopefully politicians more senior than her will fully take on board the logic of Walsh’s appeal.

Let’s hope they do for for the welfare of all young sports people who derive such enjoyment for their activities but need to be reassured that they are protected from long-term health implications.

That would make sport so much better, would it not?