Brain Game

COLUMBUS Jackson Kumpf admits he was timid when he stepped back onto the basketball court.

The Scotus Central Catholic junior had been out of the game for about three weeks after suffering a hit to the head in a game against the Grand Island Central Catholic Crusaders.

During that Centennial Conference Tournament game Jan. 27, a post player for the Crusaders came down with the ball and struck Kumpf in the back of his head. The hit knocked out the 17-year-old and left a gash in his head that required him to get seven staples after he went to the emergency room.

The visible injury wasnt what kept Kumpf off the court until his return Feb. 19. It was the resulting concussion he suffered from the blow that left him on the sideline.

Gone are the days when student-athletes could just shake off a head injury and get back in the game. Concussions, which are traumatic brain injuries caused by the brain being shaken in the skull, are taken seriously, from the professional level to children's sports.

At the forefront is the health of the player, which is why the Nebraska Concussion Awareness Act was put into effect in 2012 by the state Legislature. That act requires student-athletes to sit out of competition if they suffer a brain injury. They cant return to action until they are evaluated and cleared to play by a medical professional.

Kumpf said it was frustrating not being able to be on the court.

It was tough. That was a crucial part of the season, Kumpf said of a season that ended with the Shamrocks playing for the state title in Class C-1.

Important games ahead or not, Kumpf wasnt going to be seeing playing time soon. Just how long he was out was dependent on his recuperation time. He had to follow a protocol in place in local schools.

Tests determine whether a student is ready to return to action. All student-athletes at the three local high schools and some area schools take what is called the Immediate Post Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Test (ImPACT). The computer-based program measures a players memory, concentration and reaction time.

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Brain Game