Rockefeller, chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, said, "Every afternoon at the end of the school day, millions of our children head to playing fields, gymnasiums or hockey rinks to participate in team sports.

"Playing sports doesn't just make our kids stronger and healthier, it also teaches them important values. They learn about hard work, about leadership and about working together for a common goal," Rockefeller said. "The last thing we would want to do is discourage young people from playing sports."

Rockefeller expressed his strong support for physical exercise.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, he said, "One-third of our children are now overweight or obese, which makes it more likely that they will suffer from chronic health conditions such as heart disease or diabetes."

But every year, hundreds of thousands of athletes in high school and college suffer serious head injuries playing sports ranging from football and hockey to soccer and baseball.

"We now understand that this is not an injury only [National Football League] players can suffer," Rockefeller said. He cited two recent research studies at the Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio: They found that:

* More than 70,000 high school football players sustain concussions every year.

* More than 10,000 girls who play high-school soccer also sustain concussions every year.

Two former college athletes who spoke to the committee Wednesday made the difficult decision to stop playing the sports they love after suffering multiple concussions, Rockefeller said. 

Alexis Ball, a senior at the University of New Mexico, testified, "Concussions have altered my life. I played soccer since I was 4. I was an Academic All-American by my junior year [in college]. But in December 2009, I was disqualified from college athletics."

Ball suffered two concussions within two weeks.

"I was no longer able to sleep at night. I no longer enjoyed participating in anything. I was sitting in my room staring into space.

"I accumulated 10 concussions in eight years, most while using protective headgear. I returned to play too quickly," Ball said. "Most coaches and athletes do not understand the long-term ramifications of concussions."

Steven Threet, who was a starting quarterback for Arizona State University, helps coach the football team today.

Threet experienced four documented concussions, the first in high school, he said.

"On Nov. 26, 2010, a concussion ended my football-playing career," he said. "My goal in speaking is not to deter athletes from competing.

"Playing through a brain injury is not a sign of toughness. It is a sign that athletes are not informed about the [dangers]. There is no concussion-proof helmet, no magic pill for immediate recovery," Threet testified.

Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher, a neurology professor at the University of Michigan, testified that "3.8 million concussions occur every year from sports and recreational activities. The vast majority occur among our youth."

Helmets cannot protect the contents of a person's skull when it is hit, Kutcher said.

"It is extremely unlikely that helmets can prevent concussions the way they can prevent skull fractures. No current helmets, mouth guards or headbands can significantly prevent concussions from occurring."

Dr. Ann McKee, a neurology professor at Boston University, testified, "Young children are even more susceptible to concussions than older children and adults."

McKee said it is critical for people to understand "what a concussion is and what is the proper treatment when it is diagnosed. ... We also need better player and coach education and changes in the way sports are played. "

Rockefeller said sports like football, hockey, or soccer will never be risk-free.

But they can become safer "if coaches, trainers, players, and parents are willing to take an honest look at how their sports are played and make changes that will better protect their athletes," he said.

Reach Paul J. Nyden at pjny...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5164.