10-19-2013, 11:10 AM
Concussions
10-19-2013, 11:38 AM
From the article:
Quote:Women playing college soccer are 46 percent more likely to have reported concussions than male players, according to a 16-year NCAA study published in 2007. In basketball, women were 38 percent more like likely to have reported concussions than men.
From the article:
Quote:Women playing college soccer are 46 percent more likely to have reported concussions than male players, according to a 16-year NCAA study published in 2007. In basketball, women were 38 percent more like likely to have reported concussions than men.
10-20-2013, 10:30 AM
I didn't realize how severe their suffering was, especially for Oliver. I'm so glad they both chose to retire. They have so much potential to give to the world and for themselves that I wouldn't want them to risk in the pursuit of fulfillment and success on the field and on the court.
As a fan, I loved watching Toni play. Her emergence is what made the difference for our team and in my opinion her departure from injuries is what kept us from a National Championship and from a Final Four. When a St. John's player dove onto her leg at the end of the second round of the NCAA I instantly and instinctively knew that our chances to win the National Championship were dashed.
She played at breakneck speed and I always thought she played like a soccer player. She often punched or tapped the ball away from an opposing player and pushed it ahead like a soccer ball, running to catch up to it vs. dribbling it. I have never seen a player do the same. Her mid-range jump shot, driving at full-acceleration before stopping on a dime, was sweet and such an effective weapon for us, especially against pressing, aggressive defenses. Which is how more athletic teams generally play us - and we get bogged down in the back court and in running our offense. But with Toni - she would often turn those kinds of defensive strategies into fast break points for us.
She will always be one of our all-time favorites.
As a fan, I loved watching Toni play. Her emergence is what made the difference for our team and in my opinion her departure from injuries is what kept us from a National Championship and from a Final Four. When a St. John's player dove onto her leg at the end of the second round of the NCAA I instantly and instinctively knew that our chances to win the National Championship were dashed.
She played at breakneck speed and I always thought she played like a soccer player. She often punched or tapped the ball away from an opposing player and pushed it ahead like a soccer ball, running to catch up to it vs. dribbling it. I have never seen a player do the same. Her mid-range jump shot, driving at full-acceleration before stopping on a dime, was sweet and such an effective weapon for us, especially against pressing, aggressive defenses. Which is how more athletic teams generally play us - and we get bogged down in the back court and in running our offense. But with Toni - she would often turn those kinds of defensive strategies into fast break points for us.
She will always be one of our all-time favorites.
I didn't realize how severe their suffering was, especially for Oliver. I'm so glad they both chose to retire. They have so much potential to give to the world and for themselves that I wouldn't want them to risk in the pursuit of fulfillment and success on the field and on the court.
As a fan, I loved watching Toni play. Her emergence is what made the difference for our team and in my opinion her departure from injuries is what kept us from a National Championship and from a Final Four. When a St. John's player dove onto her leg at the end of the second round of the NCAA I instantly and instinctively knew that our chances to win the National Championship were dashed.
She played at breakneck speed and I always thought she played like a soccer player. She often punched or tapped the ball away from an opposing player and pushed it ahead like a soccer ball, running to catch up to it vs. dribbling it. I have never seen a player do the same. Her mid-range jump shot, driving at full-acceleration before stopping on a dime, was sweet and such an effective weapon for us, especially against pressing, aggressive defenses. Which is how more athletic teams generally play us - and we get bogged down in the back court and in running our offense. But with Toni - she would often turn those kinds of defensive strategies into fast break points for us.
She will always be one of our all-time favorites.
As a fan, I loved watching Toni play. Her emergence is what made the difference for our team and in my opinion her departure from injuries is what kept us from a National Championship and from a Final Four. When a St. John's player dove onto her leg at the end of the second round of the NCAA I instantly and instinctively knew that our chances to win the National Championship were dashed.
She played at breakneck speed and I always thought she played like a soccer player. She often punched or tapped the ball away from an opposing player and pushed it ahead like a soccer ball, running to catch up to it vs. dribbling it. I have never seen a player do the same. Her mid-range jump shot, driving at full-acceleration before stopping on a dime, was sweet and such an effective weapon for us, especially against pressing, aggressive defenses. Which is how more athletic teams generally play us - and we get bogged down in the back court and in running our offense. But with Toni - she would often turn those kinds of defensive strategies into fast break points for us.
She will always be one of our all-time favorites.
10-20-2013, 12:59 PM
Sorry--I originally posted this on the Toni Retires thread and then saw this thread started, so moved it here....
***
Tom Fitzgerald's story in the Chron (also referenced elsewhere on this board) finally tells the full story behind Toni's retirement, and it sounds absolutely dreadful for Toni (and Emily Oliver, our soccer goalie who also retired due to concussions.)
She and Emily each had four concussions, apparently.
I am not sure that fans ever realized how serious these concussions were. Weeks of light sensitivity, mood swings, inability to concentrate. Messing with the brain in that way is not worth a game. I know it was hard for Toni to make this decision, but after hearing the details I think we can all agree it was the right decision to make.
All that doesn't change the fact that we will all miss seeing her play.
Good luck, Toni!
***
Tom Fitzgerald's story in the Chron (also referenced elsewhere on this board) finally tells the full story behind Toni's retirement, and it sounds absolutely dreadful for Toni (and Emily Oliver, our soccer goalie who also retired due to concussions.)
Quote:At about the same time that Oliver suffered her concussion, Kokenis took an elbow to the head in a campus pickup game against a team of men. Although not as bad off as Oliver, she didn't go to class for three weeks. When she did, she often wore sunglasses indoors because of her sensitivity to light. "The mood swings were a big thing," she said. "Those were awful." She tried to study for a midterm in human biology but couldn't do it.
She and Emily each had four concussions, apparently.
I am not sure that fans ever realized how serious these concussions were. Weeks of light sensitivity, mood swings, inability to concentrate. Messing with the brain in that way is not worth a game. I know it was hard for Toni to make this decision, but after hearing the details I think we can all agree it was the right decision to make.
All that doesn't change the fact that we will all miss seeing her play.
Good luck, Toni!
Sorry--I originally posted this on the Toni Retires thread and then saw this thread started, so moved it here....
***
Tom Fitzgerald's story in the Chron (also referenced elsewhere on this board) finally tells the full story behind Toni's retirement, and it sounds absolutely dreadful for Toni (and Emily Oliver, our soccer goalie who also retired due to concussions.)
She and Emily each had four concussions, apparently.
I am not sure that fans ever realized how serious these concussions were. Weeks of light sensitivity, mood swings, inability to concentrate. Messing with the brain in that way is not worth a game. I know it was hard for Toni to make this decision, but after hearing the details I think we can all agree it was the right decision to make.
All that doesn't change the fact that we will all miss seeing her play.
Good luck, Toni!
***
Tom Fitzgerald's story in the Chron (also referenced elsewhere on this board) finally tells the full story behind Toni's retirement, and it sounds absolutely dreadful for Toni (and Emily Oliver, our soccer goalie who also retired due to concussions.)
Quote:At about the same time that Oliver suffered her concussion, Kokenis took an elbow to the head in a campus pickup game against a team of men. Although not as bad off as Oliver, she didn't go to class for three weeks. When she did, she often wore sunglasses indoors because of her sensitivity to light. "The mood swings were a big thing," she said. "Those were awful." She tried to study for a midterm in human biology but couldn't do it.
She and Emily each had four concussions, apparently.
I am not sure that fans ever realized how serious these concussions were. Weeks of light sensitivity, mood swings, inability to concentrate. Messing with the brain in that way is not worth a game. I know it was hard for Toni to make this decision, but after hearing the details I think we can all agree it was the right decision to make.
All that doesn't change the fact that we will all miss seeing her play.
Good luck, Toni!
10-21-2013, 04:56 PM
(10-19-2013, 11:38 AM)82 Card link Wrote:From the article:
Quote:Women playing college soccer are 46 percent more likely to have reported concussions than male players, according to a 16-year NCAA study published in 2007. In basketball, women were 38 percent more like likely to have reported concussions than men.
I suspect that differences in reporting account for a significant part of this. I'd bet that female athletes are more likely to be honest with coaches and training staff, whereas male athletes are more likely to pretend they're OK even when they're not.
(10-19-2013, 11:38 AM)82 Card link Wrote:From the article:
Quote:Women playing college soccer are 46 percent more likely to have reported concussions than male players, according to a 16-year NCAA study published in 2007. In basketball, women were 38 percent more like likely to have reported concussions than men.
I suspect that differences in reporting account for a significant part of this. I'd bet that female athletes are more likely to be honest with coaches and training staff, whereas male athletes are more likely to pretend they're OK even when they're not.
10-21-2013, 08:21 PM
(10-21-2013, 04:56 PM)Roberton3 link Wrote:I suspect that differences in reporting account for a significant part of this. I'd bet that female athletes are more likely to be honest with coaches and training staff, whereas male athletes are more likely to pretend they're OK even when they're not.
The data in my field support this. It mirrors the higher rate for incidence of women self-reporting depression and spousal abuse. We know the rates for men are similar, but they self-report far less. I remember telling the trainers I was fine after several of my concussions so I could avoid coming out. This macho "I can conquer it" attitude may also account for men self-medicating with alcohol at 3 times the rate of women (the exact flip of the rate for women self-reporting depression).
Lets be honest women are just smarter than me, and many other males. Just ask my wife. :)
Heroism is not defined by one great act, but by a lifetime of right action.
(10-21-2013, 04:56 PM)Roberton3 link Wrote:I suspect that differences in reporting account for a significant part of this. I'd bet that female athletes are more likely to be honest with coaches and training staff, whereas male athletes are more likely to pretend they're OK even when they're not.
The data in my field support this. It mirrors the higher rate for incidence of women self-reporting depression and spousal abuse. We know the rates for men are similar, but they self-report far less. I remember telling the trainers I was fine after several of my concussions so I could avoid coming out. This macho "I can conquer it" attitude may also account for men self-medicating with alcohol at 3 times the rate of women (the exact flip of the rate for women self-reporting depression).
Lets be honest women are just smarter than me, and many other males. Just ask my wife. :)
Heroism is not defined by one great act, but by a lifetime of right action.
10-21-2013, 09:11 PM
Although my initial reaction was that the higher rate of concussions was the result of guys being macho idiots, I became less convinced of this after reflecting on my experience with friends and family. Although guys may be all macho when the adrenaline is running, they are quite capable of being openly concerned about physical ailments when the adrenaline wears off (or being hypocondriacs, as my sister in law would say). When it comes to serious pain, the women in my family are far more macho than the guys. I'm not convinced that female NCAA athletes are significantly less motivated to stay in the game than male NCAA athletes.
Although my initial reaction was that the higher rate of concussions was the result of guys being macho idiots, I became less convinced of this after reflecting on my experience with friends and family. Although guys may be all macho when the adrenaline is running, they are quite capable of being openly concerned about physical ailments when the adrenaline wears off (or being hypocondriacs, as my sister in law would say). When it comes to serious pain, the women in my family are far more macho than the guys. I'm not convinced that female NCAA athletes are significantly less motivated to stay in the game than male NCAA athletes.
10-22-2013, 07:52 AM
(10-21-2013, 09:11 PM)82 Card link Wrote:I'm not convinced that female NCAA athletes are significantly less motivated to stay in the game than male NCAA athletes.
Based on my experience, female college athletes are every bit as competitive and every bit as motivated to stay in the game as male athletes. But they're also typically more mature and less apt to do short-sighted things -- so I would expect them to be better about reporting concussion symptoms to coaches and trainers.
(10-21-2013, 09:11 PM)82 Card link Wrote:I'm not convinced that female NCAA athletes are significantly less motivated to stay in the game than male NCAA athletes.
Based on my experience, female college athletes are every bit as competitive and every bit as motivated to stay in the game as male athletes. But they're also typically more mature and less apt to do short-sighted things -- so I would expect them to be better about reporting concussion symptoms to coaches and trainers.
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