Good teammates look out for each other.
That’s the premise behind the Team Up Speak Up (TUSU) campaign, in which players will notify a coach or athletic trainer if they suspect a teammate might have a concussion.
USA Lacrosse has partnered with the Concussion Legacy Foundation to help promote a healthy team environment in which players are encouraged to speak up on behalf of a teammate who may be injured.
The goal of Team Up Speak Up is for as many athletes as possible to hear a simple speech from their coach. The core message: athletes have a responsibility to tell a team leader if they see concussion signs in a teammate. The speech is simple, quick, and has the power to save an athlete's season, career, or even their life.
The week of March 14-20 has been designated as Team Up Speak Up week for lacrosse teams across the country. USA Lacrosse encourages all coaches to give the simple speech that reminds their players to take the responsibility of speaking up about concussions.
“Having your teammate’s back; that’s what sports are all about,” said Cathy Reese, Hall of Fame women’s coach at the University of Maryland.
Silence isn’t the right solution.
“The Team Up Speak Up speech is vital because coaches can’t be everywhere all the time,” said University of Virginia men’s head coach Lars Tiffany. “Everyone’s got to know that their voice matters.”
Coaches can learn a little bit more about talking to their team about concussions by clicking here.
