Department Research

Concussion Education Research Grant

Grant - Iowa interscholastic athletic coaches' perceptions of sport-related concussion and the impact on concussion culture, sports safety, and management (2021)

Issuing Organization - Mid-America Athletic Trainers’ Association (MAATA)

Assistant professor Richelle M. Williams developed a toolkit for Iowa high school athletes, coaches, and parents about concussions and best practices for managing them. The development of the toolkit is a result of the 2021 research grant Williams received in collaboration with Maggie Ferguson (Iowa Department of Public Health) from MAATA.

The toolkit has two parts:

Part I - Infographic that features facts about concussions in young athletes

Concussions in Young Athletes Infographic

Part II - Informational video that was created in collaboration with Drake University’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Dr. Williams is working towards peer review publication on the findings from the grant focused on coaches' perceptions of concussions. The toolkit will be sent to Iowa athletic associations and coaches that Williams worked with through the duration of her research. She hopes to provide new material for youth athletes to educate further on sport-related concussions.