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Violence in sports is unacceptable, doctor says continued from p.30 thought about sport. "(Sports) are not about how much violence can we incur. Violence is just hurting your opponent, and that was never part of sport," Echlin continued. "In this next generation, it's not acceptable." Echlin first became involved with the HDSB in 2012 after meeting Joanne Walsh, the board's co-ordinator of health and physical education, at an international summit on concussions. Echlin then began working on an online instruction unit research project with Western University, and HDSB research staff and teachers helped craft parameters to establish how concussion instruction would work in the classroom. The concussion education program consists of modules that present common head injuries and ask students for the most appropriate response. The modules are reinforced by short videos and discussions. Emily Carr Grade 6 teacher Andrea Cavaco was pleased with the way her class embraced the pilot program. "Students were fully engaged in telling their experiences to their classmates and in evaluating the individual responses to the situations based on their new learning," she said in an HDSB release. "Students have been eager to learn about the physical signs and symptoms of a concussion and emotional and cognitive components that can often be misunderstood." According to results of a Statistics Canada survey released last year, approximately 30,000 concussions or related head injuries are reported annually in the 12to-19 age group (with 60 per cent of those related to sports activity). That may just be the tip of the iceberg, as experts suggest as many as 90 per cent of concussions go unreported. Echlin noted children should be given more time and space to recover from head injuries because their brain tissue is still developing. He also said many people are unaware of brain trauma they may have suffered during their childhood. Blackwell said introducing curriculum education as early as Grade 3 allows youngsters to learn about potential head injuries when it affects them most. "When you compare the number of kids as they move through the grades that continue to play competitive sports and sports that have collisions, those numbers decrease," he said. "Just look at the playgrounds. One hundred kids screaming around the playground and always knocking heads and falling down. Grade 3 will be a really important place." "The fundamentals of cultural shift are with education and health. The fact that we're doing both right now is incredibly important," Echlin added. "Hopefully we can show the (professional) leagues it's not okay. We want our kids to be elite and healthy and happy and welladjusted, and to utilize sports and games for their original purpose. That's the important thing. Allow our kids to feel secure and play these games to the best they can." -- Jon Kuiperij can be followed on Twitter @Beaversports 31 | Thursday, June 26, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com OTHS student Seatle named to national U18 rugby team Oakville Trafalgar High School student Maddy Seatle was one of the 12 players named to the Canadian under-18 women's rugby team that will compete in this year's Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China. Milton resident Kaitlyn Richard was also named to the team, which hopes to build on Canada's secondplace showing at last year's Women's Rugby Sevens World Cup in Russia. The sevens silver qualified Canada for the Youth Olympic Games as the top team from the North American Caribbean Rugby Association. "We will strive to finish top of our pool and give ourselves the best position to win all of the knockout rounds," said Canadian coach John Tait. Players on the U18 team are seen as potential members of Canada's Olympic team in 2020, and some may even be considered for the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. DEERFIELD GOLF CLUB CANADA DAY WEEKEND SPECIAL Sat.-Tues. June 27th- July 1st $ $5 OFF IF BOOKED ONLINE. after 11 am. 45 H OCKEY & F L O G CHECK FACEBOOK & TWITTER FOR DETAILS & SPECIALS Download our mobile app for Android and iPhone CAMP 3 hours of professional golf instructions and 2 hours of top-knotch on-ice hockey instructions Camp Sessions: July 7th-11th / July 14th-18th / July 21st-25th/July 28th-August 1st Cost: $399 + HST Register Today! Call 905.845.6989 or visit us at www.icesports.com/oakville Canlan Ice Sports Oakville in conjunction with Puma Golf and Joshua Creek Golf www.golfdeerfield.com N. SERVICE RD. 2363 North Ser vice Road Just East of Bronte Rd. Oakville HWY 25 3RD LINE QEW 905-847-5555