Awareness of concussion-education requirements, and -management plans and concussion knowledge in high school and club sport coaches

Abstract

Context: A growing number of high-school-aged athletes participate on club sport teams. Some, but not all, state concussion laws apply to both interscholastic and private sport organizations. However, concussion education, management plans, and knowledge have not been examined in club coaches who coach high school-aged athletes. Objective: To determine if differences in concussion education, management plans, and knowledge exist between high school coaches and coaches of club sport teams. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Online survey. Patients or Other Participants: A total of 769 coaches (497 high school coaches, 272 club coaches coaching high school-aged athletes; 266 women [34.6%], 503 men [65.4%]) completed an anonymous online questionnaire. Main Outcome Measure(s): The questionnaire consisted of demographic and team information, requirements for concussion- education and -management plans, and concussion knowledge. Results: High school coaches were more likely than club coaches to report that their organizing bodies or leagues required them to receive concussion-education information (97.4% versus 80.4%; P