AJ Gravel

Assignment 1
Coalitions for Concussion Awareness in the Sport of Lacrosse
Stakeholders
1) Coaches
Local coaches are very important to include because they
spend many hours interfacing with the athletes and
through their rapport with the players can be a confidant to
come to if a player suspects a head injury. They are also in
charge of dictating who sees the playing field and are in a
direct line of communication with the players, their
parents, and trainers.
A coach represents a core role
Non-health services sector
2) Lax Allstars
They are a startup company that is a media outlet for the
sport as well as a sponsor of camps and clinics. They could
support by spreading the word, writing articles, or shooting
videos to put online.
Supportive role
Community/grass roots sector
3) YMCA
They also sponsor youth lacrosse teams and although it is
a no contact league, concussions are still prevalent and
they should have a vested interest in protecting the
participants.
Involved role
Non-health services sector

4) US Lacrosse
The national governing body of lacrosse should definitely
be involved and voice their thoughts because they
probably have the most significant off the field presence.
Core role
Private sector

5) Cascade
As the leading helmet supplier in the sport of lacrosse,
Cascade has a vested interest in providing the safest and
highest quality product that they can to the players that
support their business.
Peripheral role
Private sector
6) Athletic trainers
They have an on the field presence during practice and
games and have training in recognizing and treating a
concussion. They are also close with the athletes.
Supportive role
Health-related sector
7) St. Lukes
As a large hospital and medical facility with a far-reaching
influence across the state, they have staff trained to treat
severe head trauma and have the facilities and recourses
to promote education as well as a place for athletes to take
a baseline test.
Supportive role
Private/health related sector
8) Department of Health and Human Services
They want to promote and protect citizens health and can
have a role in voicing policy opinions or set about making
national changes.
Peripheral role
Government sector
9) Lax Idaho
Locally owned and operated lacrosse gear shop, very
invested in player growth and development through
camps, etc.
Peripheral role
Private sector

10)

Parent/club board

Lacrosse has yet to be financially sanctioned in the state of

Idaho so rely on player funds and parent boards to govern
each team and organization
Core role
Community/grass roots sector

People Most Affected

The people most affected by concussions are the players
themselves and their families. Concussions affect everyone differently
and there still exist a lot of unknowns about them, especially while
later in life and what effect they may have on the aging process or
brain damage. These stakeholders and coalition members would have
a big impact on the lacrosse community. They would promote a trickle
down affect. They would raise awareness to the issue, promote a more
open environment when it comes to confronting concussions, and
teach people such as coaches and parents how to recognize and treat
the signs and symptoms. A lesser amount of concussions suffered will
lead to a healthier community and people wont have to rely on the
healthcare industry or drain tax dollars while being treated later in life
for brain damage.
Everyone involved on the coalition has an impact. I would say
that coaches, parents, and healthcare professionals or trainers have
the farthest-reaching effect. Coaches can promote a more open and
accepting environment during practice and games in terms of
recognizing and managing an instance of head trauma. Parent

involvement is essential in youth sports. They are the first line of

defense when it comes to recognizing a change in cognitive function in
their young player and can help the recovery process most directly.
Trainers, or health professionals, have a big responsibility when having
to rely on their training to diagnose and prescribe treatment options for
concussions. Some obstacles to having an impact could be scheduling
conflicts, family responsibilities, or even monetary incentives.
Resolutions to these issues could be having a firm meeting day, date,
time, and location at least once a month, having older high school
players come to the meeting to watch and entertain younger kids, and
to have a per diem payment system or a marketing system that would
promote an individual or practice that could then later lead to more
income.

Coalition Members, Local/State/National

1) Treasure Valley Youth Lacrosse League
http://tvyll.com/Default.asp?org=tvyll.com
President: Maggie Williams
Cell/contact info: 208-371-9297
The Treasure Valley Youth Lacrosse League (TVYLL) is based out
of Boise and represents the youth players of southern Idaho.
Their goal is to promote the sport to youth players regardless of
experience and they sponsor teams, run camps and clinics,
hire/schedule referees, are in charge of facilities, and hold many

other league responsibilities. It would be important to include

them because they have a large voice throughout the Idaho
lacrosse community, especially the Boise area, and have a lot of
parent involvement.
2) Idaho Lacrosse Association
http://idaholacrosse.org
President: Kristi Sliger
Contact info: sliger.kristi@meridianschools.org
The Idaho Lacrosse Association (ILA) represents the interests of
lacrosse players in Idaho. They encompass youth through high
school as well as promote the area college games and news but
dont have any affiliation with them. They are important to
include because they have a broader spectrum of responsibilities
than the TVYLL and represent the states players as a whole, not
just the Boise area. They are a state chapter of US Lacrosse, the
national governing body of youth lacrosse.
3) US Lacrosse
http://www.uslacrosse.org
Contact info: 410-366-6735
Based out of Baltimore Maryland, they are the national governing
body of lacrosse. They boast boards, committees, leadership
opportunities, and have a national presence. They set the
precedent on rules, guidelines, etc. across the country. Each
state has at least one chapter of US lacrosse and youth insurance
plans can even be purchased through them. They also promote
the growth of the sport and youth developmental opportunities.
They are important to include because they have a large voice
and represent all players and player safety at the national level.