Carla Killough McClafferty

FOURTH DOWN AND INCHES
Concussions and Football's Make-or-Break Moment
Author: Carla Killough McClafferty

A well-researched and readable informational text on sports concussions provides a strong case for greater understanding and awareness of their long-term effects.
Concerns about concussions in sports, especially football, have been increasing over the years and are particularly critical for young athletes. Worry about the violence and potential for serious injury have been part of football’s history almost from the beginning. It was close to being banned in Georgia after the death of a University of Georgia student in 1897. The sport’s possible brutality merited the attention of President Theodore Roosevelt in 1905, when he invited representatives from Harvard, Yale and Princeton to a meeting at the White House. But it survived and thrived. Improved technology, heightened awareness and high-profile cases of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (brain injury) have served to focus attention on the problem. In addition to providing historical context, McClafferty provides a clear and highly readable narrative by weaving in stories of affected athletes and researchers studying the problem. Along with the engaging writing, this volume has an arresting design that uses a catchy page layout, bold graphics and an excellent selection of photographs. A lofty level of research is reflected in the extensive backmatter, which includes source notes, an index, a bibliography and further reading as well as a medically approved list of concussion symptoms and return-to-play recommendations.
An important read for young athletes and the adults who care about them. (Nonfiction 11-18)

Publisher: Carolrhoda
Price ( Hardcover ): $20.95
Price ( e-book ): $15.95
Publication Date: September 1, 2013
ISBN ( Hardcover ): 978-1-4677-1067-1
ISBN ( e-book ): 978-1-4677-1665-9

"Fourth Down and Inches: Concussions and Football's Make-Or-Break Moment will likely be more effective than the barrage of academic papers published on sports-related concussions over the past decade in ensuring all young athletes are aware of the signs and symptoms of concussion and recognize the importance of recovering fully before returning to play. A manuscript on concussions written specifically for young athletes is long overdue and this excellent book fills that void. This informative and entertaining book should be required reading for all high school football players, if not all high school athletes. Thanks to Carla Killough McClafferty for taking the message to those who need to hear it the most, young athletes!"

R. Dawn Comstock, PhD
Associate Professor
Colorado School of Public Health, Epidemiology
University of Colorado School of Medicine, Pediatrics
Pediatric Injury Prevention, Education, and Research (PIPER) Program