A two-year government-backed trial is set to test a new app that helps identify and manage concussions in grassroots sport.
SportSmart is a digital injury management platform designed by a charitable company set up by former McLaren Formula 1 team owner Ron Dennis.
The platform allows users to record and manage head injuries, suspected concussions and other sports-related injuries, and then shares that information with the relevant parties.
In April, the government announced UK-wide concussion guidelines for grassroots sport aimed at parents, coaches, referees and players. This followed a number of high-profile head injuries within professional sport.
The data from the app trial will help test whether the guidelines are having an impact.
As part of the awareness campaign around concussion in sport, the government has also revealed a simple mantra: ‘if in doubt, sit it out’.
Sports minister Stuart Andrew, said, “I would encourage organisations to get involved,” when discussing the introduction of the app.
Andy Hunt, who headed Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics, said data on concussion in grassroots sport had been limited because it was always considered too difficult to co-ordinate and collate.
Hunt – now Chief Executive of Podium Analytics, which designed the app – commented, “We want to do this because we want to make sport safer and we want to give kids the opportunity to participate in sport for the rest of their lives.
“Hopefully it will lead to great science that will help to solve some of these issues that are not fixed. Concussion is a massive issue and we need to massively improve our understanding.
“We want parents, we want coaches, we want volunteers, we want teachers to know what to do and how to manage the new UK concussion guidelines.”
Podium Analytics is part-funded by CVC Capital Partners – the private equity firm which has been a major investor in many sports including football, Formula 1, rugby union and tennis.
The free app includes a head-injury tool with a traffic-light system to automatically notify users of a player’s availability to train or play during and after the new minimum 21-day return-to-play period following a concussion.
