Home » Robert Cantu

Robert Cantu

Banning Soccer Heading In Youth Soccer: Will It Make The Sport Safer?

The November 2015 announcement by a group of US youth soccer groups of a recommendation that players age 11 and younger be barred from heading the ball and that headers be limited in practice for those from age 12 and 13, has generated controversy, with experts lining up on both sides of the debate.

Fourth International Consensus Conference on Concussion in Sport: Personal Observations

A leading sports concussion neuropsychologist and researcher provides her personal observations on the 4th International Consensus Conference on Concussion in Sport, held in Zurich, Switzerland in November 2012.

Aspen Institute Football Roundtable Was Valuable, But Changed Few Minds

Last Friday, I participated in a roundtable discussion in Washington, D.C. conducted by the Aspen Institute's Sports & Society program called "Playing Safety: The Future of Youth Football?" It was moderated by ESPN's Tom Farrey and, in the phrase made famous by the movie Casablanca, rounded up all the usual suspects on concussion safety and football, including MomsTEAM concussion expert emeritus Dr. Bob Cantu, USA Football Executive Director Scott Hallenbeck, and NFL Player Association President DeMaurice Smith, among other luminaries from the world of football and journalism. I was indeed honored to be asked to join those debating the future of the sport.

The Aspen Institute's discussion on the future of youth and high school football rounded up the usual suspects, both those advocating against tackle football before age 14 or abolishing the sport altogether, and those saying that the best approach is to institute reforms so that teams can play smart, not scared.

Head Games Movie Review: Not The Film I Was Hoping To See

Head Games: The Movie paints the sports concussion picture largely in black and white terms, eschewing a more nuanced approach in favor of the sensational. It is a movie that is intended to evoke in viewers an emotional, not rational response but, in the end, it is the movie that is playing games with our heads.

Another Concussion Book Review

Because I didn't blog about it, some of you may have missed my lengthy review last week of Dr. Bob Cantu's new book, Concussions and Our Kids: America's Leading Expert on How To Protect Young Athletes and Keep Sports Safe, which he co-authored with sports journalist Mark Hyman, the latest in a slew of concussion books that I have read and reviewed over the past couple of years (that will teach me; if I really want people to read what I write, I better at least mention it in a blog!). 

Brooke de Lench and MomsTEAM: Student-Athlete Sports Concussion Pioneers

At a seminar for parents at Concord-Carlisle (MA) High School in 2007, world-reknowned concussion doctor and MomsTEAM expert emeritus, Robert Cantu, MD, says MomsTEAM and Brooke de Lench were the "pioneers" in educating parents about the dangers of sports concussions back in 2000.

Limiting Hits To Head In Youth Sports Aim of Innovative "Hit Count" Program

The Sports Legacy Institute's  "Hit Count" initiative is designed to dramatically reduce youth athletes' exposure to repetitive brain trauma in multiple sports, with the goal to reduce concussions, sub-concussive trauma and risk of developing Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).

Chris Nowinski: The Amazing Journey of a Concussion Evangelist

When I ate dinner recently with my friend Chris Nowinski, President of the Sports Legacy Institute, I did so with the pride of knowing that the early support I gave him helped make his career in concussion education and research possible.

Heads Up New Jersey! Second Annual Sports Concussion Summit on Sunday, July 17 in Plainsboro

Heads up to physicians and health care providers in the Garden State: here's a chance to learn about sport concussions from some of top experts in the field as, this coming Sunday, July 17, 2011, the Athletic Trainers Society of New Jersey will hold its second annual sports concussion summit in Plainsboro.

Syndicate content