Finding a way to reconcile two competing demands - minimizing contact in
practice in order to reduce the number of concussions sustained and the number of hits
players sustain over the course of a week and a season that emerging science, now more than ever, suggests may have a deleterious cumulative effect [26] on a
player's cognitive
function over the long term, while at the same time maximizing the amount of time in
practice learning how to tackle and block without head - to - head contact - time that is needed to maximize the protective effect of proper tackling on the number of head - to - head hits
players sustain in game action, which can not only result in concussion, but catastrophic neck and spine injuries - is challenging, but clearly not impossible.