Tucker Center Newsletter - 2011 Fall
Director | Feature: Conference | Research | Documentary | Kudos | Film Festival
Tucker Center Collaborates with TPT to Produce Ground-breaking Documentary "Concussions and Female Athletes"
The topic of our 2011 spring Distinguished Lecture concentrated on the impact of concussions on female athletes. We recognized that in spite of considerable scholarly inquiry, media coverage, and public debate, female athletes were largely missing from discussion. In tackling this topic, we wanted to expand dialogue, increase awareness, promote prevention, and ensure that future concussion research included female athletes.
As a direct result of our lecture, Twin Cities Public Television Minnesota Channel (TPT), in partnership with the Tucker Center, has produced a one-hour ground-breaking documentary. "Concussions and Female Athletes" is the untold story of the impact of concussion on female athletes. The premiere will be aired Sunday, October 16, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. and includes interviews with athletes and their parents, referees, coaches, scholars, and policy makers. In particular we want to acknowledge the support we received from President Emeritus Robert H. Bruininks, who was instrumental in making this partnership with TPT a reality. A "second premiere" on the tptLIFE channel will air Sunday, October 23 at noon. The documentary will also run on The Big Ten Network and be available to view for free on our Web site.
Recently, numerous other positive awareness and prevention outcomes have occurred as a result of ongoing concussion dialogue. For example, this summer Minnesota joined 20 other states that have passed concussion legislation to protect youth athletes, and Dick's Sporting Goods has created Protecting Athletes through Concussion Education (PACE). The PACE initiative is available free of charge to schools and assists in determining if an athlete is ready to return to play after suffering a concussion.
We hope concussion initiatives and our documentary help ensure that all youth athletes have a safe sport experience, thereby having the opportunity to accrue the many positive developmental benefits sports participation can provide.