For our tutorial with one of the tutors, I had to come up with 3 possible concepts to showcase to these to the tutors to see which concept is the strongest to take forward.
APPROACH 1 – MINIS – After conducting my research into rugby and the possible link between concussion and MND (Motor Neurone Disease), I found out that there is a link between rugby and these two things.
From this I conducted a questionnaire to ask people who play and have played rugby to give there views and to see what they would like to be showcased and pushed further and many of them spoke about the younger generation aka minis to be educated more about the effects of concussion but to also spot the signs of a concussion as they get older to increase the factor of safety as they get older and carry on playing as domestic rugby and spotting the symptoms of concussion are often lacking by players and coaches.
APPROACH 2 – LAWSUITS – After completing a large amount of research, I have found that there have been quite a few lawsuits placed against the WRU, ERU and WRU in regards to the lack of attention to head collisions and concussions, and how symptoms have been dismissed by referees and also medics and therefore this has caused existing and also retired rugby players to put in a lawsuit against them, as many have come forward with neurological symptoms and brain damage and even worse MND (Motor Neurone Disease) or ALS which sadly Joost van der Westhuizen passed away from this as a possible result of rugby and constant head knocks.
APPROACH 3 – INFORMATIONAL – SYMPTOMS/TACKLING TECHNIQUES ETC –
When conducting the research on rugby and the signs of concussions, I found that there is a huge variety of symptoms when it comes to diagnosing concussions in rugby using the HIA protocol. From the questionnaire I carried out previously, I asked current and retired rugby players what symptoms they have experienced when having a concussion, and every participants answers were different and hugely varied.
FEEDBACK
The feedback I received was really helpful as it helped me make a final decision on what concept I am taking forward as the main concept. The overall concept my peers and tutor suggested I take forward was approach 1 – MINIS, as this is where the safety begins is with the younger generation,
my learning journal 