Our Mission
Play It Protect It exists to generate awareness of helmet safety in youth sports. We believe every child deserves the chance to play without preventable brain injuries. Through education, advocacy, and action, we promote TBI awareness, helmet safety, and the prevention of brain injuries in youth sports.
Awareness Campaign
Our goal is to raise enough funds to purchase 20-30 top quality helmets for a local high school sports team. in need. The school that demonstrates the highest need and interest in participating in our campaign will be selected from our application.
The identified sports team refers to football, lacrosse, or baseball.
Safety Education/Did you Know
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In the United States, there are as many as 3.8 million concussions that occur during competitive sports every year, and unfortunately, more than half (between 1.1 and 1.9) of these concussions occur in children. Concussions are a mild traumatic brain injury or “TBI” and can happen in almost any sport, at any moment. It happens when there is a physical blow or jolt to the head.
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Concussions results in more than 100,000 emergency department visits for school-aged children each year in the United States.
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Boys' sports account for 75% of all concussions, with football more than half of all concussions. Soccer had the most concussions among girls' sports.
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Girls may be at greater risk of concussion while playing soccer due to "heading" the ball, a lack of protective gear, and an emphasis on contact during the game, researchers have suggested. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0887899415001800. Accessed September 2019. https://wwstarsportsmedicine.org/research/which-youth-sports-cause-the-most-concussions/. Accessed September 2019.
Advocacy Efforts
We advocate for policy changes that promote helmet usage in youth sports. By collaborating with sports organizations, we strive to create safer environments and regulations that protect young athletes everywhere.
Community Support
We engage the community through events focused on safety and prevention. By fostering a supportive network, we empower families and players to join us in raising awareness about helmet safety.