There were a lot of big games throughout the high school sports season in 2012, but the spokesman for the Iowa High School Athletic Association says a change in the way head injuries are handled could be the biggest story of the year. Budd Legg says both the boys and girls associations work with the schools on the issue. Legg says some of the information that assistant executive director Alan Beste did in establishing a protocol for handling concussions and returning athletes to play after concussions is a “real step forward.”

The high school focus on concussions comes as pro and college sports are also putting a greater emphasis on the issue. Legg says it takes a lot of work at the local level, and he credits health experts with making it successful. “It wouldn’t be as strong as it is in Iowa without the support of our medical community — our doctors and practitioners — giving us a lot of support in that area,” Legg says. As part of the program, parents are now required to sign a concussion information sheet for all activities before their children can participate.

(Radio Iowa)