Contact sport

Current medical terminology in the United States uses the term contact sport and collision sport to refer to sports like rugby, American football, professional wrestling, ice hockey, lacrosse and roller derby. The term limited-contact sport is used to refer to sports such as soccer, baseball and handball, and the term noncontact sport to sports like badminton, running and swimming. The American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement was revised in 2008 to include the following definition: ==Grades==

Full-contact martial arts A full contact sport is primarily any combat sport that allows the competitor to attempt to knock-out or otherwise defeat their opponent by physically incapacitating them. Examples of this would include most professional martial arts such as mixed martial arts, boxing and some forms of karate and taekwondo. Defeating an opponent generally takes place using in isolation or combination actions such as striking and grappling depending on the rules of the sport. Full-contact martial arts include: Semi-contact martial arts A semi-contact sport is typically a combat sport involving striking and containing physical contact between the combatants simulating full-power techniques. The techniques are restricted to limited power and rendering the opponent unconscious is forbidden. Some semi-contact sports use a point system to determine the winner and use extensive protective gear to protect the athletes from injury. Examples of semi-contact sports include karate, kalaripayattu, Kenpo, various Korean martial arts that incorporate contact rules sparring, kendo, some types of historical European martial arts, fencing and taekwondo. Contact sports As defined by the AAP and also considered collision sports. The AAP notes Martial arts can be subclassified as judo, jujitsu, karate, kung fu, and tae kwon do; some forms are contact sports and others are limited-contact sports. Limited-contact sports As defined by the AAP. The AAP notes Martial arts can be subclassified as judo, jujitsu, karate, kung fu, and tae kwon do; some forms are contact sports and others are limited-contact sports. Tag, while rarely an organized sport, could also be considered a semi-contact sport. Non-contact sports As defined by the AAP. ==Sports injury and prevention==

Equipment player David Backes with ice hockey helmet. As a result of the risk of injury, some sports require the use of protective equipment, for example American football protective equipment or the gloves and helmets needed for underwater hockey. Some sports are also played on soft ground and have padding on physical obstacles, such as goal posts. Most contact sports require any male players to wear a protective cup to protect their genitalia. There has been an increasing medical, academic, and media focus on sports involving rapid contact in the late 20th to early 21st century and their relationship with sports injuries. Several sports' governing bodies began changing their rules in order to decrease the incidence of serious injuries and avoid lawsuits. In some countries, new laws have been passed, particularly in regard to concussions. To reduce concussions in American football, the National Football League implemented the use of Guardian Caps. Guardian Caps are soft-shelled helmets that have a soft material covering the outside of the helmet that absorb the initial intensity of the impact. These caps are worn in practice and in games by different football levels, ranging from youth athletes to those in the National Football League. According to the NFL, because of the Guardian Cap NXT, concussions have decreased by 52%. Concussion protocols At the professional level, America's professional football league, the National Football League, implemented The Concussion Protocol in 2011, banning concussed players from re-entering the same game in which they were injured in order to reduce the risk of further injury and damage. In Canada in 2018, Rowan's Law was passed after the death of a young Canadian female athlete. Rowan Stringer died in 2013 of second-impact syndrome, "...the result of suffering multiple concussions playing rugby three times in six days." Doctors and sports physical therapists can use ImPACT tests to test athletes post-concussion, and help them with a speedy recovery. This is conducted through cognitive tests, verbal and visual memory activities, and reaction time. These tests are done to make sure that the athletes are cleared to play, and won't be at risk for another concussion. Long-term Effects There are two main long term effects caused by ongoing concussions in contact sports, CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) and PCS (Post-Concussion Syndrome). Studies on retired and deceased former players have found signs of increased rates of CTE, dementia, and other, often incurable, neurological diseases. Symptoms of long term effects include increased irritability, anxiety, processing speed, and difficulties with memory. ==See also==