COmmunities Aligned to Reduce Concussion and Head Impact Exposure

Head impacts in collision sports such as football are a public health concern, as repetitive head impacts, even if a concussion is not suspected, have negative effects on brain health. This study has partnered with a community stakeholder group to create a safety program for youth football named "COmmunities Aligned to reduce Concussion and Head impact exposure (COACH)", which seeks to improve knowledge and skills of youth coaches in effective and safe practice planning and to change attitudes and beliefs to prevent head impacts and promote safety. To continue advancing COACH as an approach to prevent head injuries in youth football, this R01 Research Project Grant will determine the ability of youth football organizations to adopt COACH and test if COACH is effective in reducing head impacts, concussion, and negative effects of brain health while monitoring how the program is implemented.

Inclusion Criteria: * Participants without braces Exclusion Criteria: * Athletes will be excluded from participation if they currently have braces or plan to have braces during the football season, or have dental appliances that may impede the fit of the mouthpiece device (e.g., Herbst Appliance).