As fall sports, chiefly football and soccer, near, the news has been full of articles about sports head injuries and the lifelong damage they can do.

• The National Collegiate Athletic Association late last month settled several lawsuits brought by athletes who had suffered head injuries while playing sports.

• The World Cup in Brazil “treated” television viewers to the sight of too many head injuries sustained during soccer games.

• Joel Skotte, the former Mountain View High School football player now at Oregon State University, ended his career after neck injuries and at least one concussion.

Officials must be trained in recognizing and dealing with concussions. Central Oregon’s young athletes receive baseline testing as part of the ImPACT (Immediate Post Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) program, which also sets standards guiding when an athlete may return to play.

The state of California is now limiting practices, and the National Football League has created a “Heads Up” program that will teach parents proper football techniques. There’s also research into improving football helmets.

Sports should be fun, not lead to a lifetime of debilitating health problems.