Culture of Resistance?

Culture of Resistance?

Culture of Resistance?
Culture of Resistance? Scurry stumbled to the sideline and down to the locker room, where she couldn’t repeat the string of words a trainer read her to test for brain trauma. Doctors initially estimated that she’d need a few days to recover, as most...
Culture of Resistance? Scurry stumbled to the sideline and down to the locker room, where she couldn’t repeat the string of words a trainer read her to test for brain trauma. Doctors initially estimated that she’d need a few days to recover, as most...
Culture of Resistance? Scurry stumbled to the sideline and down to the locker room, where she couldn’t repeat the string of words a trainer read her to test for brain trauma. Doctors initially estimated that she’d need a few days to recover, as most...

Culture of Resistance?

Scurry stumbled to the sideline and down to the locker room, where she couldn’t repeat the string of words a trainer read her to test for brain trauma. Doctors initially estimated that she’d need a few days to recover, as most people who suffer concussions do. When her symptoms persisted, they revised that estimate to two weeks. Then 60 days. Then indefinitely. Her career was over.

The debate over adequate safety measures for impact injuries is in focus after Hugo Lloris looked to be knocked unconscious on Sunday, only to continue playing against Everton minutes later. The Washington Post recently looked at the long-term effects of concussions by tracking the post-retirement life of Briana Scurry, former goalkeeper for the US Women’s National Team. The results are more than a bit sobering.

Initially told by a match referee that she was “all right,” and to continue on with play, Scurry has subsequently suffered a slew of symptoms in the aftermath of a gruesome collision that has left her with memory loss, personality changes and impaired cognition.

While concussions can be partially dealt with if properly acknowledged and treated, much of the danger lies in the typical response from players, coaches and staff that amounts to a culture of resistance, in which social pressures urge players to play on despite the health risks. 

While Scurry is progressing in her recovery, it’s nevertheless crucial to be informed as the dialogue regarding concussions develops. As Sally D’Italia, a league administrator in the Washington area, notes in the piece, “A large part of this is awareness. Life has to go on after soccer." [Posted by Maxi]