Ivy League leading the battle against concussions

New rules restricting contact could have far-reaching impact on college athletics

The vaunted Ivy League has always answered to a different drummer. Although considered an NCAA Division I member, the Ivy League does not allow their institutions to offer athletic scholarships. And, in football its teams are not permitted to participate in the post-season FCS tournament because it interferes with first semester exams. Both positions on athletics demonstrate the league’s emphasis on academics over athletics.

Now the Ivy League has taken a ground breaking role in the protection of its student-athletes from the risk of head injuries by passing new rules intended to reduce concussions in football, soccer and lacrosse. The rules call for fewer allowable contact-oriented practices and more strident guidelines for coaches to follow when an athlete is suspected of suffering a head injury.

It’s expected that the impact of these proactive steps will be watched carefully by the NCAA and other conferences as the concern over head injuries continues to be a hot topic at every level of athletics. But, what the Ivy League has done in shifting the focus onto contact sports other than football cannot be overlooked in its significance. It is the first conference to publically admit that there is a problem with head injuries in these so-called minor sports upon which there has been inadequate institutional, media and medical attention.

We applaud the Ivy League for their stand and efforts to protect their athletes. And, while time will tell the whole story, we ardently hope that their new rules will reveal data supporting that similar such actions be adopted across the board in NCAA athletics.