headSTRONG is a sports concussion and brain injury educational campaign, empowering high school athletes with the knowledge to turn awareness into action, and action into lasting change.
3.8M
Sport concussions / year in the US
400+
Athletes Reached
5
Organizations Partnered
20
Workshops Held
96%
Awareness Rate
Every year, millions of young athletes risk undiagnosed brain injuries. headSTRONG exists to change that: one school, one team, one athlete at a time.
headSTRONG was started with the belief that knowledge is protection. We work directly with high school athletic programs, community organizations, and the general public to integrate concussion education into every aspect of sports culture.
Our programs are designed in partnership with medical professionals and built for real people: athletes who want to compete, coaches who want to protect their players, and parents who want their kids to come home safe.
“"The most important way to start educating about concussions is to start a conversation."”
— Derek Lawrance, DAT, ATC, US Men's Soccer Health Team
Three interconnected goals that move the needle on athlete brain health from the locker room to the legislature.
We equip athletes, coaches, and parents with evidence-based knowledge about sign/symptom recognition, prevention protocols, and safe return-to-play guidelines.
headSTRONG is committed to breaking the silence around concussion reporting culture. We empower athletes to speak up for themselves - and their fellow teammates - without fear of being benched or stigmatized, because reporting is strength.
We are actively involved in driving policy change at school, district, and state levels to mandate player education and standardized concussion protocols across all sports.
Brain injuries don't discriminate by sport. Here's how headSTRONG commits to awareness in every locker room.
Highest reported concussion rates in contact sports
👥40 athletes educated
One of the highest world-wide concussion rates in sport
👥30 athletes educated
Concussions to watch in a fast-developing contact sport
👥19 athletes educated
Collisions and hard court falls cause frequent mTBI
👥14 athletes educated
A high-speed contact sport with significant head injury risk
👥39 athletes educated
Diving and court collisions often go unreported
👥27 athletes educated
Stunt falls can cause concussions via whiplash
👥49 athletes educated
Head-to-mat and head-to-head contact are everyday occurences
👥14 athletes educated
Pitched ball impact and sliding collisions are uncommon, but happen
👥17 athletes educated
Board collisions and high-velocity checking frequently trigger concussions
👥18 athletes educated
Diving impacts and pool-edge collisions pose hidden risks
👥36 athletes educated
Pole vault, hurdles, and relay collisions can cause head injuries
👥28 athletes educated
High-impact landings and falls from equipment risk brain injury
👥15 athletes educated
Roughly 70% of concussions from helmet strikes aren't diagnosed immediately on the field, leading to delayed recognition
👥51 athletes educated
Recreational head injuries in all sports are a part of headSTRONG's most important curriculum
👥47 athletes educated
What we use to educate our fellow athletes about concussions, the importance of symptom recognition, and the basics of care.
Our educational tool for peer educators looking to hold headSTRONG workshops for teams. Made in partnership with physicians, athletic trainers, and researchers, this guide offers an introduction to traumatic brain injury (TBI), sport concussion, whiplash injuries, sign/symptom reporting, and more.
Template workshops for any athlete, coach, or advocate to hold a peer education workshop anywhere.
Aimed at amending the Return to Play Law to include mandatory sit-down concussion education for athletes; standardize Return to Learn protocol across the state; and include private and recreational facilities in concussion prevention policy.
The current state protocol for safely returning athletes to competition after a diagnosed concussion or mTBI incident. The law mandates that coaches are educated about concussions and athletes receive an information slip. What's happening in your school?
CDC's guide to how brain injuries affect learning and what academic support students should request during recovery.
CDC's guide on how the Return to Play process truly looks - and how it can differ - for every recovering athlete.
The Virginia Tech Helmet Lab's guide to sport-specific certified helmets and protective gear that meet current safety standards.
CDC's guide to the common signs and symptoms of a concussion. Peer/self reporting is SO IMPORTANT and these resources give our athletes the tools to understand when something's not right.
Our educational materials are informed by current scientific literature and reviewed by healthcare professionals. As research continues to evolve, headSTRONG updates its educational materials accordingly.
headSTRONG presented to Lambert's flag football team today! We led an interactive session on concussion awareness, symptom recognition, and the importance of speaking up when something feels wrong. Through real-world scenarios and discussing past concussions in teammates, athletes explored how to recognize potential concussions and make their brain health a priority.
Read moreWe’ve had so much fun training our team over the past few weeks! Peer athletes and educators from Lambert High School, South Forsyth High School, and more partner chapters across the U.S. are getting ready to lead headSTRONG workshops and engage with our teams. Pictured are some of our Lambert High School peer educators after their TBI and sports concussion training!
Read moreAthletes for Hope is now a official partner of headSTRONG! From collaborating on national concussion-education campaigns, to contributing to mental health curriculum and awareness, to holding dual fundraisers: we're proud to partner with an organization that holds athletes close to its heart. Visit https://www.athletesforhope.org/ !
Read moreWe're proud to work alongside dedicated institutions and organizations who share our commitment to athlete brain health.
Whether you're an athlete, parent, coach, or advocate, there's a way for you to make an impact.
Bring headSTRONG to your team. Request a workshop for your school or athletic program.
Request a Workshop →Support the Return to Play and Learn Act. Contact your Georgia legislators using our template.
Take Action →Concussions don't just affect athletes. Help raise awareness about TBI in your community.
Learn How →Have a question, want to hold a workshop, or work with us?
Get in Touch