FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Fans, coaches and teammates often praise those who stay in the game after getting their "bell rung," but there can be major consequences for those who continue to play with a concussion. Educating parents, coaches and athletes on how to identify and treat concussions is crucial to player safety.

"One of the challenging issues with concussions is getting athletes to tell us they are experiencing symptoms," says R.J. Elbin, assistant professor and director of the Office for Sport Concussion Research. "Often times athletes don't disclose their injury for fear of being taken out of the game, losing their position or letting their teammates down."