Korrio Teams Up with Axon Sports to Raise Awareness about Concussion Risk in Youth Soccer

SEATTLE, Oct. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Korrio (korrio.com), developer of the 21st-century sports automation platform Playflow(TM), announced a partnership today with Axon Sports (axonsports.com), providers of  the Computerized Cognitive Assessment Tool (CCAT), a breakthrough testing system used by athletes and their families to assist medical providers in providing care after suspected concussions and making critical return-to-play decisions.

The companies will collaborate to raise awareness about the dangers of concussions in youth soccer and address teams' growing interest in implementing proactive concussion management plans. They will also explore ways to integrate baseline testing through Axon Sports CCAT on Korrio's Playflow sports automation platform.

Concussion management has become more prevalent in youth sports in recent years, as more states consider mandating new protocols and guidelines in an effort to more effectively identify and treat brain injuries. One element of an effective concussion management plan is baseline testing that measures an athlete's cognitive brain function. Using the Axon Sports CCAT, athletes take a baseline test prior to the season, which records their brain speed and accuracy. The results are used for comparison in the event of a suspected concussion or traumatic brain injury. Such test results are a useful tool for medical providers to consult as they evaluate injuries and administer treatment.  

"Industry-wide adoption of concussion management plans for youth soccer teams is still in a nascent stage and both Korrio and Axon Sports view this partnership as an exciting first step to help accelerate the process," said Steve Goldman, Korrio CEO. "In the coming months, Korrio and Axon Sports will work with others in the youth soccer community on this important issue and explore ways to make baseline testing a standard part of the registration process. This will offer parents peace of mind, knowing they have taken an essential step in protecting the health and safety of their young athlete."

One in 10 athletes will suffer a concussion this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The actual number is likely much higher, as many concussions continue to go unrecognized and undiagnosed. A concussion is defined as a brain injury caused by traumatic force and can be characterized by headaches, a dazed feeling, blurry vision and dizziness.

"Axon Sports has developed a very simple web-based concussion management tool for youth sports, enabling baseline testing that is quick, easy and affordable," Axon Sports President and CEO Polly James said. "We look forward to working with Korrio on ways to support clubs and teams that embrace best-practice concussion management planning, while also making online baseline concussion testing more readily available to the youth soccer community."

Korrio, whose Playflow platform allows youth soccer leagues and clubs to manage all aspects of team operations -- from registration and payments to team rosters and scheduling -- recognizes the seriousness of concussions. It plans to post relevant information on its website and use its communication channels to educate parents, players and coaches about concussion management, testing and warning signs. For coaches, it's crucial to learn the symptoms of such head injuries in order to remove hurt players from the game.

"In the coming months, Korrio and Axon Sports will explore the feasibility of integrating Axon Sports baseline testing into Korrio's Playflow sports automation platform," Goldman continued. "We believe Playflow's family-centric social networking capabilities in the youth soccer community can serve as a great tool for medical education and sharing information about concussion risks and management."

About Axon Sports

Axon Sports provides the Axon Sports Computerized Cognitive Assessment Tool (CCAT) as well as educational resources on a wide range of topics surrounding its proper use within an overall concussion management program. Together with athletes, parents, coaches, athletic trainers and doctors, Axon Sports is on a mission to protect and train the athletic brain. To learn more or preview a sample test, visit axonsports.com.

About Korrio

Korrio, founded in January 2009, is the developer of Playflow(TM), a 21st-century youth sports automation platform. Korrio has a singular focus on kids and sports. The company's mission is to transform the sports experience and elevate the level at which sports are played by automating the things that get in the way -- like registration/payment, team formation, rosters, scheduling, communication, and web hosting. Korrio is easy, safe, integrated, and mobile. Visit us online at korrio.com and watch our Korrio video to learn how to elevate your game.

SOURCE Korrio