Rangers defender John Souttar has joined the fight to raise awareness around concussion in sport.
The centre-back, along with former Scotland rugby star Geoff Cross and Olympic cyclist Neah Evans, is an ambassador for the Scottish Sports Concussion Advisory Group.
Eleven years after the Scottish Sports Concussion Guidance was published, statistics show an estimated 50% of sports concussions go unreported, and young people aged between 10 and 19 are the most affected.
Souttar had his own scare when sustained a concussion while playing in a European Under-21 qualifier for Scotland against Latvia in 2017 - spending a night in hospital.
He said: “My own experience was a bit scary. I thought I’d been stretchered off but I’ve since seen pictures of me walking off the pitch.
“My return was very carefully managed, and the doctors were great, checking on my symptoms and taking me through the process step-by-step.
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“This cause deserves a powerful voice at every level. As ambassador, the focus must be on grassroots awareness, where the real difference is made.”
Former Scotland prop and qualified physician Dr Geoff Cross said: “The progress that has been made over the past decade has been groundbreaking and extremely important for anyone taking part in sport.
“The more we are able to ingrain the correct information in grassroots sports the better. By continuing to educate participants, coaches and parents about how to recognise when there is an issue, we will be creating a safer sporting environment.
“We must reinforce the message that it doesn’t make you tough to carry on if there’s been an issue, especially when we are talking about young people. We want them to have fun and enjoy the immeasurable benefits the sport brings, but we want them to also be safe.”
Dr Stephanie Adams, founder of ConcussED, is an educator contracted by sportscotland to deliver concussion education and co-chair of the Scottish Sports Concussion Advisory Group.
She said: "It’s fantastic to have Geoff, Neah and John on board. Concussion education is a life skill - in and outside of sport. We need to start learning about this critical topic from a young age. That's where we can begin to truly shift the culture to respect and protect the brain but also encourage safe, lifelong, sport and exercise participation.”
