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MHSAA releases fall concussion statistics

Posted at 6:57 PM, Dec 09, 2015
and last updated 2015-12-09 18:57:11-05

For the first time high schools across Michigan started tracking concussions under the leadership of the Michigan High School Athletic Association this year. 

Now we're getting a first look at the data collected during the fall season.

The data was collected from 744 schools across the state.  About 2,700 students suffered concussions, or about 2% of students.

The MHSAA tracked every sport.

"We have to be concerned about more than just football," said Jack Roberts, MHSAA Executive Director. "We have to be concerned about all sports, and more than just contests.  We are concerned about practices as well."

Most concussions, 79%,  happened during football, which is the most played sport. Eleven percent of concussions happened during boys soccer.

The data is just part of the MHSAA's effort to learn about concussions. 

It has two pilot programs using technology to identify them. Schools that were part of the pilot programs in many cases reported more concussions.

The MHSAA is looking into whether that is because they are better at identifying them.