High school football game ends after 9 players suffer head injuries

The coach of a Monctonhigh school football teamsaid his team was forced to forfeit a game on Friday after several of his players suffered head injuries, resulting in at least four showing signs of concussion.

Marcel Metti, the coach of the coleL'Odysse Olympiens, said nine of his players suffered blows to the head during Friday's game in Monctonagainst Sackville'sTantramarTitans.

He said all players were taken to a hospital as a precaution.Four players showedserious symptoms of concussion, such as nausea and vomiting.

"We had to forfeit the game for players' safety and security," he told CBC News.

As of Sunday, he said those fourplayers still had concussionsymptoms.

How players became injured is unclear

Metti said he wouldn't comment on how the players became injured.

"I'm not going to get into that. It's part of the football game," he said.

However, he said he hadsome discussions about what took place with the referees and Titans' coaches on Friday.

The game was interrupted halfway through, with the Titans leading 35-0.

'They were outmatched,' says coach

Scott O'Neal, the coach of theTitans, said his team was playing football within the rules, and was not penalized for any wrongdoing.

He said if any players were injured, it was because their coaches failed to prepare them.

"They were outmatched, that's as simple as it was," he said."That's how football is."

Concussions in youth should be taken seriously, expert says

The incident took place abouta week after the District Scolaire Francophone Sud, of whichcoleL'Odysse is part, released its new concussion policy.

The policy stipulates that any player who has received a blow to the head during a game must not play again until they have a doctor's note confirming they have no concussion.

Normand Gionet, a professor emeritus of kinesiology atUniversit de Moncton, said concussions in youth should be taken very seriouslybecause they can affect everything related to your thinking and the way you function.

He saidsome children havedied after suffering multiple concussions.

Gionet said ifa child suffers a head injury, they should be taken to the doctor, even if they're not showing symptoms right awaybecause sometimes the effects can be delayed.