EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY
Team Up Speak Up
Team Up Speak Up
National Team Up Speak Up Week is September 19-25, 2021. The goal of Team Up Speak Up is for as many athletes as possible to hear a simple speech. The core message: athletes have a responsibility to tell a team leader if they notice concussion signs in a teammate.
The Team Up Speak Up Speech should come from a coach or team leader at the beginning of an athletic season. Whatever role you play, you can help us change the concussion culture and improve concussion reporting.
Take the Team Up Speak Up pledge to give the speech or spread the message to athletes in your community.
Team Up Speak Up
Participate in National Team Up Speak Up Week Sept. 19-25
National Team Up Speak Up Week September 19-25, 2021 is CLF's annual event to spread the message that athletes have a responsibility to look out for each other when it comes to concussions.
Coaches, athletes, team leaders, schools, and organizations participate by delivering the Team Up Speak Up Speech and sharing their participation across social media.
Learn the speech and how to bring Team Up Speak Up to your community with these printable illustrated guides:
Give the Team Up Speak Up Speech
Giving the speech is easy! All it takes is a copy of the speech and a cell phone to capture it all on video. Since the program launched in 2016, more than 1,500 teams and organizations accounting for more than 6.25 million athletes have spread the Team Up Speak Up message.
Check out this example from USA Hockey U21 Head Coach Nate Leahman:
Share #TeamUpSpeakUp on Social Media
We can’t change concussion culture without your help. We need athletes across the country to hear the #TeamUpSpeakUp speech and learn to speak up to a coach or athletic trainer if they see a signs of a concussion.
Make sure to record your coach or team leader giving the Team Up Speak Up speech! Share the video on social media using #TeamUpSpeakUp, like this:
Concussions aren’t like any other injury. ... Our athletes took the pledge during national #TeamUpSpeakUp week to tell a coach or athletic trainer if they think a teammate has a concussion. #WeAreTeam @concussionlf https://t.co/IhnbG8TCZ3 @menloschool @AubreyYanda pic.twitter.com/PFB9qFL8Sl
— MenloSchoolAthletics (@MenloKnights) September 13, 2019
#TeamUpSpeakUp Video Contest
Think your team has spirit, creativity, and team culture strong enough to be our Team Up Speak Up video contest winners? Click here to enter in three easy steps!
The grand prize winners receive Team Up Speak Up gear bags for the whole team. Runners up receive gift cards to sporting goods stores of their choosing.
Click here to learn how to enter.
Team leaders: take charge of your concussion culture
A positive concussion culture means athletes feel comfortable speaking up about concussions in themselves or a teammate. Make sure your team hears these core principles of the Team Up Speak Up Speech from a coach, athletic trainer, or team leader to set a positive concussion culture:
Point 1: We're a team, and teammates look out for each other.
Point 2: A teammate with a concussion needs your help.
Point 3: I expect you to speak up to a coach, athletic trainer, or team leader if you suspect a teammate has a concussion.
It's a simple message, but the Team Up Speak Up Speech has the power to save an athlete's season, career, or even their life. Learn more about the origins of the Team Up Speak Up Speech and why it works, click here.
Click here learn the top ten reasons why athletes don't report concussions, and how to address them with your team.
Speak Up: Concussion signs and symptoms
A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. It is a serious injury that requires medical attention; athletes should never continue playing with a suspected concussion. Team Up Speak Up asks athletes to look out for their teammates when it comes to concussions.
To be a great teammate, learn the signs and symptoms of a concussion so that you know when a teammate needs help. Be on the lookout for these clues that something isn't right and speak up to a coach, athletic trainer, or team leader if you suspect your teammate might have a concussion. Learn more about signs and symptoms of concussion by clicking here.
Click here to learn the signs and symptoms of a concussion.
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More than 300 teams and organizations support Team Up Speak Up, including USA Hockey, USA Lacrosse, USA Rugby, NASCAR, the National Federation of High School Associations (NFHS), and more. View the full list of Team Up Speak Up Supporters.Become A Supporter
Our Team Up Speak Up Ambassadors include Hall of Famers, Olympians, respected veterans and coaches who have come together to make sure as many athletes as possible hear the Team Up Speak Up Speech from their coach, captain or athletic trainer.Meet Our Ambassadors