When Jerry Downing, star quarterback in a small football town, gets a second chance after his drunk driving had serious consequences, Carla Jensen, ace reporter for the school newspaper, invites him to join her in writing a blog, mainly about sports.

The second edition of the Impact Evaluation in Practice handbook is a comprehensive and accessible introduction to impact evaluation for policy makers and development practitioners. First published in 2011, it has been used widely across the development and academic communities. The book incorporates real-world examples to present practical guidelines for designing and implementing impact evaluations. Readers will gain an understanding of impact evaluations and the best ways to use them to design evidence-based policies and programs. The updated version covers the newest techniques for evaluating programs and includes state-of-the-art implementation advice, as well as an expanded set of examples and case studies that draw on recent development challenges. It also includes new material on research ethics and partnerships to conduct impact evaluation. The handbook is divided into four sections: Part One discusses what to evaluate and why; Part Two presents the main impact evaluation methods; Part Three addresses how to manage impact evaluations; Part Four reviews impact evaluation sampling and data collection. Case studies illustrate different applications of impact evaluations. The book links to complementary instructional material available online, including an applied case as well as questions and answers. The updated second edition will be a valuable resource for the international development community, universities, and policy makers looking to build better evidence around what works in development.

"Abstract: Concussion is a type of mild traumatic brain injury, is common, and occurs both in sport and as a result of falls or accidents. Concussion has become an increasingly recognized public health concern, largely driven by prominent media coverage of athletes who have sustained concussion. Although much has been written about this condition, we still do not understand its natural history, and we are only now beginning to recognize that concussion often manifests in different clinical domains. These may require targeted treatment in and of themselves; otherwise, persistent postconcussive symptoms may develop. Although most individuals who sustain a concussion recover, and although concussion is a treatable condition, it is important that concussion be managed early and comprehensively to avoid a more prolonged clinical trajectory. A relatively recent term often used in the setting of concussion is repetitive head impact exposure-a biomechanical force applied to the head that does not generate a clinical manifestation of concussion, but may result in structural brain changes. Although it is often assumed that repetitive head impact exposure leads to long-term neurological sequelae, the science to document this assumption is in its infancy. Repeated concussions may lead to depression or cognitive impairment later in life, and there is an emerging literature that repeated concussion and repetitive head impact exposure are associated with chronic traumatic encephalopathy or other neurodegenerative diseases. Currently there is no known causal connection between concussion, repetitive head impact exposure, and neurodegeneration, although this research is also still in its infancy. What is clear is that (a) concussion prevention and safety should be paramount in sport and in society, (b) concussion management should begin immediately and should include clinical domains, and (c) research on concussion and repetitive head impact exposure must continue to move forward. Keywords: concussion; mild traumatic brain injury; clinical domains; repetitive head impact exposure; chronic traumatic encephalopathy; safety"--

This book provides a broad introduction to the important topic of concussive brain injury that considers historical, medical, research-based, and legal and ethical perspectives. The devastating long-term effects of concussions and the apparent mismanagement of concussion treatment among college and professional athletes have received major media attention in recent years. Do athletes—especially young ones—and their parents understand the physical risks and potential lifelong costs involved with playing their sport? Are injuries handled properly, or are players' careers and teams' successes put ahead of health and safety? Written by a Harvard-educated doctor who conducts clinical and scientific research in the area of sports injuries and concussive brain injuries, this book provides readers with honest and authoritative information about concussions. The book's chapters address the subject from all angles and shed light on current debates related to concussions caused by sports injuries and accidents.

Preventing Sudden Death in Sport and Physical Activity, Second Edition examines the etiology, prevention, recognition, treatment, and return-to-play protocol of the common causes of sudden death in sport. Chapters are written by content area experts, offering a blend of clinical, scientific, and research expertise regarding each medical condition that is discussed.

When Ray Ciancaglini was a teenager, he sustained a concussion in a boxing match. Failing to appreciate the significance of his symptoms, coupled with the misconception that you had to be knocked out to sustain a concussion, he stepped into the ring again the following week. During that fight, he suffered a second concussion while still in the recovery phase of the initial one. The effects of this "second impact" altered his existence.Andy Siegel is a personal injury lawyer who has spent the better part of his career representing survivors of traumatic brain injury (TBI). This complicated injury demands the involvement of a tenured legal specialist to achieve full justice, especially when the injured party may appear uninjured on the surface, which is why TBI is known as the silent injury.In 2014, Andy met Ray and immediately appreciated the importance of his mission. Ray has made the most of his life situation through his crusade to educate others about concussion and the avoidable devastation of sustaining a "second impact." Ray's life story needs to be told for the health, welfare, and safety of all.Second Impact is based on Ray's recall of his experiences. Each chapter recounts some of these experiences and ends with Ray's comments on those events. This format allows the reader to follow the story in the form of a novel while benefiting from Ray's insightful reflections in retrospect.