Preventing the Hit or Healing the Damage?
Tackling the University of Michigan’s concussion strategy
—By Adileni Vital
“Not at Michigan,” Tommy Hamann, Wolverines’ football field manager said with a shake of his head, recalling an experience from his rugby days. “But I have seen players who won’t report a concussion and will try to play through it.”
His words underscore a difficult truth in the world of sports; that sometimes, athletes push their bodies beyond their limits, and head injuries can slip through the cracks.
At the University of Michigan, concussion management isn’t just about reacting after an injury; it’s about creating a culture that prioritizes prevention and recovery. The university’s athletic program combines the latest concussion research with innovative training techniques, specialized equipment, and a rigorous recovery protocol to ensure the well-being of its athletes. Michigan is also home to the Michigan Concussion Center, which strives to maximize societal and individual health through the pursuit of concussion knowledge. It’s a delicate balance between competing at the highest level and protecting long-term health, a challenge Michigan’s athletic department meets head-on.
On Wolverine turf
Hamann has an early morning, preparing for the rigorous demands of a day filled with drills, practice, and the responsibility of keeping athletes safe. The rhythm of a football practice is precise, and Hamann plays a pivotal role in making sure everything runs smoothly.
His role extends beyond setting up cones. Hamann works closely with the coaches, helping with drills and providing hands-on assistance to the athletes. He runs routes against them, holds pads, and ensures that every action on the field is done with precision. His attention to detail isn’t just about making sure the practice runs efficiently, but also about ensuring that everything is in place to prevent injuries.
One of Hamann’s most important tasks is ensuring that all the equipment is set up properly and that the field is free from hazards. “If a cone is left out on the field, it could be a trip hazard. If a player trips, that’s a potential injury,” Hamann explains.
However, it’s not just about preventing trips and falls. Concussions, a growing concern in the world of sports, are also present. According to Michigan Medicine, over 3.8 million sports-related concussions occur annually in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), notes that the risk is especially high in contact sports like football, where players experience the highest rates of concussion-related injuries.
At Michigan, players’ safety is a top priority. Athletic trainers are present during practices, monitoring players and helping educate them about how to recognize signs of a concussion. “Players are forced to focus on concussion prevention,” Hamann shares. This emphasis is woven into the daily strength and conditioning routines, with coaches constantly reinforcing proper tackling form, reminding players to keep their shoulders up, back straight, knees bent, and feet shoulder-width apart.
This season, the team has also introduced an innovative layer of protection: Guardian Caps. These soft, padded helmet covers are worn by players in high-contact positions such as linemen, running backs, and defensive linemen, and help reduce the impact of collisions. “The Guardian Caps are a big step in protecting our athletes,” Hamann notes, adding that they are now mandatory for certain positions.
Education off the field is just as important as physical training. At the start of each season, every athlete is required to complete a concussion education module. “Every year, I receive a concussion policy from athletics, review it and update it” says Steve Broglio, professor of Athletic Training and director of the Michigan Concussion Center.
While all players receive the same foundational education, the approach is not one-size-fits-all. “It’s really about reducing their risk by considering the unique history and needs of each athlete,” Broglio explains. Coaches and medical staff take an individualized approach, working closely with athletes to tailor protocols based on their personal medical history and specific risk factors.
Still, with precautions in place, concussions can and do happen. “If a player is suspected of having a concussion, they are immediately pulled out of practice,” says Hamann. A strict protocol is followed: the player goes straight to the trainer for an evaluation. From there trainers keep the coaches updated, and the player is only eased back into practice when it’s deemed safe.
The return-to-play process is gradual and carefully monitored. It starts with light physical activity “Maybe they’ll get on an exercise bike, then over days, we’ll elevate their heart rate a little bit until we get up to about 70, 80% of their maximum heart rate,” Broglio explains. Once the athlete can handle that level of exertion, they return to the field for sport-specific drills with no contact involved. During this phase, they wear a yellow pinnie to signal no tackle contact. “Only after they’ve regained full fitness and been cleared by the medical staff can they return to full practice,” Hamann emphasizes, ensuring a careful, methodical recovery.
Brain on the Line
To fully understand the importance of prevention protocols and return-to-play strategies, it’s crucial to first understand the severity of concussions. The understanding of recovery has evolved significantly over time. “When I started, in the late 90s the identification and management of the injury was really what some people would describe as the Wild West,” says Broglio. Fortunately, he reassures that there is now a much more unified approach. “We have a far better understanding of what recovery looks like and how to manage it,” he adds.
Research continues to highlight the long-term risks. A study published in Journal of the American Medical Association reveals that athletes who sustain multiple concussions are at greater risk for developing chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain condition. To help prevent such outcomes, experts stress the need for greater awareness. Chris Nowinski, co-founder of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, reinforces this in a TED Talk, “Every concussion is a warning sign. Athletes and coaches need to understand that repeated hits can lead to irreversible brain damage.”
Unfortunately, many symptoms are overlooked or dismissed and can result in lasting consequences. In a video produced by the University of Michigan concussion center, Jarrett Irons, a former Big-10 linebacker at the University of Michigan shared his father’s story. After suffering from early-onset Parkinson’s and dementia, resulting from repeated concussions, Irons recalls his father’s words: “If I would have known, I would have never continued to play.”
From the Field to the Future
“We are still learning,” Broglio says, emphasizing that the long-term effects of concussions, particularly the risk factors that make certain individuals more vulnerable to chronic conditions, are still being researched.
In addition to its internal efforts, Michigan is involved in several national research initiatives. One of the most significant being the Big Ten Ivy Epidemiology of Concussions, which monitors athletes throughout their collegiate careers. This program tracks concussion trends and explores strategies to reduce risk, offering valuable insights into prevention. Some Ivy League schools have already implemented changes based on these findings aimed towards improving athlete safety by “banning contact practices in football and altered kickoff rules,” notes Broglio.
Furthermore, Michigan’s Care Consortium, a group of 30 institutions studying the effects of concussions on collegiate athletes and military service academy cadets. Broglio’s center plays an active role in analyzing long-term data from athletes, working to determine the effects of repeated concussions and how they may lead to conditions like CTE.
Beyond the field
The emphasis at Michigan is clear, player safety is the top priority. But what about the culture surrounding concussions? Do athletes take prevention seriously, or is it only on their radar after an injury occurs?
Hamann has witnessed the reluctance of some players to report concussions. In those moments, the role of coaches, trainers, and managers becomes even more critical; breaking down the stigma around concussion reporting and making sure athletes feel supported when they need to step away for their health.
Hamann believes Michigan strikes a strong balance between prevention and recovery. Contact during practices is limited, and coaches remain mindful of minimizing unnecessary risk. “But there’s always room to improve,” he adds.
He offers clear advice for both athletes and coaches: “Make sure tackling form is accurate, and understand the importance of strengthening the neck.” Knowing how to deliver and absorb contact properly can make a significant difference. Concussions are a serious issue, but with education and intentional training, “we can reduce the risk with the right focus and the right tools,” Hamann says.
Broglio agrees. “There’s always work to be done but we’ve made good strides.”
Feature Photo: Indiana 2023 —Big-10 Championship, by Adileni Vital