at while this has been a difficult time for many, it will mean officials are better positioned

CHICAGO -- Continuing to play despite a concussion doubles recovery time for teen athletes and leads to worse short-term mental function than in those immediately removed from action, a study found.Its billed as the first to compare recovery outcomes for athletes removed from a game or practice compared with those who arent. The study was small, involving 69 teens treated at a University of Pittsburgh Medical Center concussion clinic, but the results bolster evidence supporting the growing number of return-to-play laws and policies nationwideThe study was published Monday in the journal Pediatrics.KEEPING SCOREThe study involved athletes aged 15 on average from several sports, including football, soccer, ice hockey and basketball who had concussions during a game or practice. Half continued to play and took 44 days on average to recover from symptoms, versus 22 days in those who were immediately sidelined.Sidelined players reported symptoms immediately, including dizziness, headaches, mental fogginess and fatigue, and were diagnosed with concussions by trainers or team physicians. The others, who continued playing for 19 minutes on average, delayed reporting symptoms and were diagnosed later.Those who continued to play had worse scores on mental function tests performed eight days after the concussion and 30 days after the concussion. Medical records showed mental function had been similar in all players before their concussions.RISKY RETURNSReturn-to-play policies are widespread, especially in youth athletics, and they typically recommend sidelining players after a suspected concussion until symptoms resolve. One of the main reasons is to prevent a rare condition called second-impact syndrome -- potentially fatal brain swelling or bleeding that can occur when a player still recovering from a concussion gets hit again in the head.The study results show that a prolonged recovery is another important risk from returning to play too soon -- one that no one had really calculated until now, said Dr. Allen Sills, a Vanderbilt University neurosurgeon. He was not involved in the research.NOT REPORTEDAbout 300,000 sports-related concussions occur each year nationwide among all ages. In high school athletics, they occur at a rate of almost 3 per 10,000 games or practices.Evidence suggests up to 50 percent of concussions in teen sports arent reported. Athletes are sometimes not aware theyve experienced a concussion, or they suspect a head injury but continue playing because they dont want to let their teammates down, said University of Arkansas concussion researcher R.J. Elbin, the studys lead author.The results give us more ammunition to persuade young athletes to heed the return-to-play advice, Elbin said.---Online:Pediatrics: http://www.pediatrics.orgCDC: http://www.cdc.gov/headsup/youthsports/---Follow AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner at http://www.twitter.com/LindseyTanner. Her work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/lindsey-tannerCustom Adrian Dantley Jersey . -- Claudio Bieler hadnt scored since early September, and not from the run of play since mid-July. Adrian Dantley Jersey Large . Bradwell was scheduled to become a free agent Tuesday. Born and raised in Toronto, Bradwell is entering his sixth CFL season, with all six played for his hometown Argonauts. http://www.customjazzjersey.com/ .Y. - General manager Billy King says the Brooklyn Nets are looking to add a big man and confirmed the team worked out centre Jason Collins, who would become the first openly gay active NBA player if signed. Custom Jazz Jerseys . The 18th player to shoot 60 on the tour, Jamieson settled for par on the final hole when his 15-foot birdie chip grazed the edge of the hole and stayed out. After opening with rounds of 66 and 73 to make the cut by a stroke, he had 11 birdies in the bogey-free round. Jazz Jerseys China . Team physician Dr. Steve Traina performed the surgery Friday. Robinson was injured in a spill underneath the Nuggets basket during the first quarter of Wednesday nights loss to the Charlotte Bobcats.CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- A Tennessee high school basketball team had a culture of hazing and bullying even before three of its players were charged with raping a teammate, according to an investigation into the incident.But the investigation released Friday also said there was no evidence that Hamilton County school officials or Ooltewah High School administrators knew or should have known such an incident would occur.Gatlinburg police say three Ooltewah players assaulted a freshman teammate with a pool cue Dec. 22 in an apparent hazing incident while the team was participating in a holiday tournament. Police have said the pool cue tore through the freshmans clothing and into his rectum, forcing emergency surgery. The three were charged as juveniles with aggravated rape.Hamilton County school officials then commissioned an investigation conducted by attorney Courtney Bullard.Bullard, who conducted 40 interviews, reported that nine Ooltewah players said the team participated in an activity they called racking in before the Gatlinburg incident. When racking in, they said, upperclassmen turned out the lights in the locker room, grabbed a freshman and punched him from the neck down, without the intent to cause injury.Many players described `racking in as horseplay or `boys being boys, Bullard said in her report. This description is indicative of a desensitization and minimization of the behavior and a lack of education on what constitutes hazing.Bullard also said she couldnt substantiate whether coach Andre Montgomery and assistant coach Karl Williams were aware of the hazing and bullying but they certainly were aware of excessive horseplay. But she added that there was no prior culture of sexual harassment on the basketball team and the assailants had no prior history of reported similar conduct.Bullards 24-page report recommended making training on Title IX mandatory for all Hamilton County Deparrtment of Education and school administrators, specifically identifying and addressing bullying, hazing and harassment.dddddddddddd She also recommended training on proper reporting, and the repercussions for failure to report.Title IX is a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in federally funded education programs.The report provides an opportunity to enhance our practices, provide better support and safety for all our students moving forward, interim Hamilton County Department of Education superintendent Kirk Kelly said. The recommendations will serve as a guide to provide ongoing monitoring and development of best practices.Kelly added that while this has been a difficult time for many, it will mean officials are better positioned in the future to respond to problems.Rick Smith, who was superintendent at the time of the incident, announced in March that he would retire July 1 and take leave effective immediately.Montgomery, Williams and assistant principal Allard Nayadley were charged in Hamilton County with failure to report child sexual abuse to the proper authorities, though charges against Williams were dropped in May.Montgomery was indicted in May on four counts of failing to report child sexual abuse.Nayadley entered a pre-trial diversion program in May. If he complies with terms of that program, which include performing community service and taking a class on mandatory reporting, the charges can be removed from his record. He also recently announced he was resigning.In addition, Gatlinburg police detective Rodney Burns faces aggravated perjury charges in Hamilton County stemming from his testimony in a preliminary hearing for the three Ooltewah High School officials.---Information from: Chattanooga Times Free Press, http://www.timesfreepress.com ' ' '