ECB Coaches Association links Inside Edge 6 May 2018 | 页面 30

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CONCUSSION IN FOCUS
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CONCUSSION IN FOCUS
LUKE FLETCHER
It is what every player dreads, but is part and parcel of
being a full-time sportsman or woman. Injuries often occur
at the most inconvenient moments, without warning.
One of the areas coming under most scrutiny across all
sports recently is head injuries, and particularly concussion.
Nottinghamshire pace bowler Luke Fletcher knows all
about the risk of a concussion, and what coaches should
do when a player receives a blow to the head. He was
struck in his follow through while playing against
Birmingham Bears in a Natwest T20 Blast match last July.
Fortunately he has made a full recovery and will be lining
up for Nottinghamshire again this summer, but the road to
a full recovery has been long and at times frightening.
Concussion
in Focus
Luke Fletcher is helped off the field after being hit
by the ball during the Natwest T20 Blast match.
Like so many things, it’s about communication. From the moment I got hit
in the head the physio, the coach Peter Moores, the medical staff, and the
manager of the team all communicated. It is also about reassuring the player,
so encouraging them to talk about the injury and keep everyone updated
about how they feel.

At the time of the injury I felt completely in control. I knew something bad
had happened because there was blood everywhere, but in my head I felt in
control and focused. I even answered all the questions correctly that they ask
to check you are still thinking straight, which I was quite proud of.
When I got to the hospital they said “you’re probably not going to play for the
rest of the season”. This was the first time I realised something serious had
happened. Initially I thought the doctors at the hospital would be cleaning a
cut up, and that would be it.

A bit later I got the results back and there was a tiny bleed on the brain.
I still felt in control through the whole experience, but at the same time I had
no idea just how serious this head injury was until a lot later.

Coaches need to be very alert to the dangers of head injuries to their
players. Through all sports there are procedures and tests which you must
follow as a coach, alongside the physio. I followed the procedure religiously
through the six month rehabilitation period. It is there to look after players, and
however frustrating it might be when you are desperate to get out and play,
you have to be patient and listen to the experts.
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