We Love You, We Hate You: Fan Twitter Response to Top College Football Recruits’ Decisions

International Journal of Sport Communication ◽

10.1123/ijsc.2021-0031 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-24

Author(s):

Jason Stamm ◽

Brandon Boatwright

Keyword(s):

High School ◽

National Collegiate Athletic Association ◽

Division I ◽

Parasocial Interaction ◽

Football Players ◽

High School Athletes ◽

High School Football ◽

Theoretical Underpinning ◽

Two Stages ◽

Practical Implications

Using a theoretical underpinning of parasocial interaction—BIRGing (basking in reflected glory) and CORFing (cutting off reflected failure)—this study explored fan reactions to high school athletes’ commitments to play football for National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I programs. A thematic analysis of tweets made by fans during the 2020 recruiting period was examined in two stages: (a) tweets directed toward recruits before they committed to a program and (b) tweets directed toward recruits after they committed. Findings show fan frivolity in regard to identification, as well as a desire to become part of the recruiting process of high school football players. In addition, results yield the possibility of a shift in athlete motivations for social media use, fan association with athletics programs, and how fans cope with unexpected loss. Theoretical and practical implications are further discussed.

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Epidemiology of Cervical Muscle Strains in Collegiate and High School Football Athletes, 2011–2012 Through 2013–2014 Academic Years

Journal of Athletic Training ◽

10.4085/1062-6050-229-18 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 54 (7) ◽

pp. 780-786

Author(s):

Katherine M. Lee ◽

Melissa C. Kay ◽

Kristen L. Kucera ◽

William E. Prentice ◽

Zachary Y. Kerr

Keyword(s):

High School ◽

Rate Ratio ◽

National Collegiate Athletic Association ◽

Injury Rate ◽

Adverse Outcomes ◽

Surveillance Program ◽

Football Players ◽

Surveillance Systems ◽

High School Football ◽

Cervical Muscle

Context Cervical muscle strains are an often-overlooked injury, with neck- and spine-related research typically focusing on spinal cord and vertebral injuries. Objective To examine the rates and distributions of cervical muscle strains in collegiate and high school football athletes. Design Descriptive epidemiology study. Setting Collegiate and high school football teams. Patients or Other Participants The National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program (NCAA-ISP) collected data from collegiate football athletes. The High School National Athletic Treatment, Injury and Outcomes Network (HS NATION) and High School Reporting Information Online (HS RIO) collected data from high school football athletes. Data from the 2011–2012 through 2013–2014 academic years were used. Main Outcome Measure(s) Athletic trainers collected injury and exposure data for football players. Injury counts, injury rates per 10 000 athlete-exposures (AEs), and injury rate ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Results The NCAA-ISP reported 49 cervical muscle strains (rate = 0.96/10 000 AEs), of which 28 (57.1%) were TL (time loss; rate = 0.55/10 000 AEs). High School NATION reported 184 cervical muscle strains (rate = 1.66/10 000 AEs), of which 33 (17.9%) were TL injuries (rate = 0.30/10 000 AEs). The HS RIO, which collects only TL injuries, reported 120 TL cervical muscle strains (rate = 0.51/10 000 AEs). The overall injury rate was lower in the NCAA-ISP than in HS NATION (injury rate ratio = 0.58; 95% CI = 0.42, 0.79); when restricted to TL injuries, the overall injury rate was higher in the NCAA-ISP (injury rate ratio = 1.83; 95% CI = 1.11, 3.03). No differences were found when comparing TL injuries in HS RIO and the NCAA-ISP. Cervical muscle-strain rates were higher during competitions than during practices across all 3 surveillance systems for all injuries. Most cervical muscle strains were due to player contact (NCAA-ISP = 85.7%, HS NATION = 78.8%, HS RIO = 85.8%). Conclusions The incidence of cervical muscle strains in football players was low compared with other injuries. Nonetheless, identifying and implementing interventions, particularly those aimed at reducing unsafe player contact, are essential to further decrease the risk of injury and associated adverse outcomes.

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Diagnosis and Management of Mild TBI via Eye Tracking

Neurology ◽

10.1212/01.wnl.0000801864.83892.7e ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 98 (1 Supplement 1) ◽

pp. S14.2-S14

Author(s):

Jeannie Lee ◽

Brandon Wei ◽

Summre Blakely ◽

Benedicto C. Baronia

Keyword(s):

High School ◽

Eye Tracking ◽

Brain Injuries ◽

Tracking Performance ◽

Football Players ◽

High School Athletes ◽

High School Football ◽

Survey Results ◽

Permanent Brain Damage

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study is to expose the prevalence of mild traumatic brain injuries among high school football players and to explore the possibility of implementing eye tracking performance as an objective way to assess cases of potential concussion.BackgroundConcussions are one of the most common forms of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Unfortunately, current research suggests that mild TBIs cannot always be accurately diagnosed via routine neurologic examination. Also, most evaluations, such as ImPACT, are survey-style assessments that are time intensive and subjective. Lack of an objective method to rapidly assess concussions on the field raises concern for second-impact syndrome (SIS), which can lead to permanent brain damage or even fatality.Design/MethodsThis multi-part study included a population of 849 high school athletes in from Lubbock, TX. Student athletes filled out a baseline concussion survey, then assessed their eye tracking performance with the EyeGuide Focus, a 10-second test that involves visually tracking a continuous, figure-8 shape. A vector-based system was used to measure the eye-tracking deviation.ResultsForty-two athletes were recorded with a baseline eye-tracking score, and a subsequent eye-tracking score that was labelled as a suspected concussion by a physician. Of those 42, 17 had a follow-up eye-tracking test 2 weeks later. Test scores labelled with suspected concussion had a significantly higher mean raw score than the baseline score. Higher scores indicate greater vector deviation from accurately tracing the figure-8 with the eyes.ConclusionsThe survey results show underdiagnosing of concussions at lower levels of youth sports, which may indicate a lack of resources. As the data shows marked changes between the concussed, baseline, and follow-up scores, eye-tracking promises to be a quick and efficient tool to assess sports-related concussions.

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Carrying the Weight: Athletics and Obesity in High School Football Players

Clinical Pediatrics ◽

10.1177/0009922819850495 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 58 (13) ◽

pp. 1409-1414

Author(s):

Joshua N. Berkowitz ◽

Asheley Cockrell Skinner ◽

Jacob A. Lohr

Keyword(s):

High School ◽

Body Mass Index ◽

Body Mass ◽

Team Sports ◽

Football Players ◽

Healthy Weight ◽

High School Athletes ◽

High School Football ◽

Prevalence Of Obesity

This article determines the prevalence of obesity among high school football players nationwide and compares obesity between position groups of football players and across team sports. We calculate body mass index (BMI) for 391 212 males participating in baseball, basketball, football, lacrosse, and soccer, then stratify BMI into commonly accepted categories and subdivide football players by position played, comparing BMI across position groups and sports. A total of 47.4% of high school football players are healthy weight (BMI = 18.5-24.9 kg/m2), 18.0% have obesity (BMI = 30-34.9 kg/m2: 12.4%) or class 2 obesity (BMI >34.9 kg/m2: 5.6%). Among linemen, 14.8% are healthy weight, 14.6% have class 2 obesity, and another 29.3% have obesity. Among non-linemen, the combined prevalence of obesity and class 2 obesity is 2.7%, comparable to other team sports. Obesity is common among high school football players, more so than among other high school athletes. Obesity and class 2 obesity are only common among linemen.

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Epidemiology of 10,000 High School Football Injuries: Patterns of Injury by Position Played

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.10.2.160 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 160-169 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Marcus A. Badgeley ◽

Natalie M. McIlvain ◽

Ellen E. Yard ◽

Sarah K. Fields ◽

R. Dawn Comstock

Keyword(s):

High School ◽

Athletic Trainers ◽

Injury Rate ◽

The United States ◽

Data Collection Tool ◽

High School Athletes ◽

High School Football ◽

Certified Athletic Trainers ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

Patterns Of Injury

Background:With more than 1.1 million high school athletes playing annually during the 2005−06 to 2009−10 academic years, football is the most popular boys’ sport in the United States.Methods:Using an internet-based data collection tool, RIO, certified athletic trainers (ATs) from 100 nationally representative US high schools reported athletic exposure and football injury data during the 2005−06 to 2009−10 academic years.Results:Participating ATs reported 10,100 football injuries corresponding to an estimated 2,739,187 football-related injuries nationally. The injury rate was 4.08 per 1000 athlete-exposures (AEs) overall. Offensive lineman collectively (center, offensive guard, offensive tackle) sustained 18.3% of all injuries. Running backs (16.3%) sustained more injuries than any other position followed by linebackers (14.9%) and wide receivers (11.9%). The leading mechanism of injury was player-player contact (64.0%) followed by player-surface contact (13.4%). More specifically, injury occurred most commonly when players were being tackled (24.4%) and tackling (21.8%).Conclusions:Patterns of football injuries vary by position. Identifying such differences is important to drive development of evidence-based, targeted injury prevention efforts.

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Physical and Performance Characteristics of Successful High School Football Players

The American Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/036354659402200621 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 22 (6) ◽

pp. 859-862 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Henry N. Williford ◽

Jane Kirkpatrick ◽

Michele Scharff-Olson ◽

Daniel L. Blessing ◽

Nai Zhen Wang

Keyword(s):

High School ◽

Performance Characteristics ◽

Football Players ◽

High School Football ◽

And Performance

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Athletic Scholarships in Intercollegiate Football

Journal of Sports Economics ◽

10.1177/1527002511409239 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 515-535 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Joshua D. Pitts ◽

Jon Paul Rezek

Keyword(s):

High School ◽

Intercollegiate Athletics ◽

Negative Binomial ◽

Negative Relationship ◽

Field Performance ◽

The United States ◽

Football Players ◽

High School Football ◽

Football Coaches ◽

Athletic Scholarships

Despite the financial and cultural importance of intercollegiate athletics in the United States, there is a paucity of research into how athletic scholarships are awarded. In this article, the authors empirically examine the factors that universities use in their decision to offer athletic scholarships to high school football players. Using a Zero-Inflated Negative Binomial (ZINB) model, the authors find a player’s weight, height, body mass index (BMI), race, speed, on-the-field performance, and his high school team’s success often have large and significant impacts on the number of scholarship offers he receives. There is also evidence of a negative relationship between academic performance and scholarship offers. In addition, the authors find evidence of a scholarship premium for players from Florida and Texas. The results also show that running backs, wide receivers, and defensive backs appear to generate the most attention from college football coaches, other things equal.

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