Concussion in Kids: What Every Arizona Parent and Coach Should Know

By Dr. Tamara Zach MD — May 01, 2026

why concussion is a bigger deal for kids than most people realize

Kids in the Valley play hard year-round: Friday night football, Saturday soccer, after-school skateboarding. That activity comes with risk, and concussion is the one parents and coaches misread most often. Dr. Tamara Zach MD, a pediatric neurologist in Phoenix, sees concussions in children get minimized, mismanaged, or missed entirely. This guide is for the Arizona parents, coaches, and athletic trainers who want to handle it right.

what a concussion actually is

A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or a hit to the body that snaps the brain inside the skull. The "mild" label is misleading. These are real brain injuries, and a child's brain is more vulnerable because it hasn't finished developing. A poorly managed concussion can do more lasting damage to a 10-year-old than to an adult who took the same hit.

Arizona's climate keeps kids in sports all year, so pediatric concussion in Phoenix is common. Football, soccer, basketball, gymnastics, cycling, and swimming accidents all bring cases into practices like Rose Medical Pavilion every season.

recognizing child concussion symptoms

Knowing what to watch for is the skill parents and coaches most need. Concussion doesn't require a loss of consciousness, and most cases don't involve one. Child concussion symptoms in Arizona can show up right away or surface over the next hours or days.

Physical Symptoms

• Headache or pressure in the head
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness or balance problems
• Blurry or double vision
• Sensitivity to light or noise
• Feeling sluggish or fatigued

Cognitive and Behavioral Symptoms

• Confusion, fogginess, or difficulty concentrating
• Memory gaps around the event
• Slowed reaction time or speech
• Irritability, sadness, or unusual emotional responses
• Changes in sleep — sleeping more than usual or difficulty falling asleep

If your child shows any of these after a head impact, pull them off the field right away. The rule is simple: when in doubt, sit it out. Never let a child return to activity the same day you suspect a concussion.

A Note on Arizona Heat

Phoenix summer heat complicates the picture. Dizziness, fatigue, nausea, and disorientation show up with both heat exhaustion and concussion. If your child takes a head impact during outdoor activity in high temperatures, evaluate for both. Rest and hydration alone won't tell you what you're dealing with, so have a medical professional sort it out.

handling a youth sports concussion the right way

Concussion management in Arizona follows clear medical and legal rules. State law (A.R.S. § 15-341) requires that any student athlete suspected of a concussion be removed from practice or competition and cleared by a licensed health care professional before playing again. Here's how the process should go:

1. Remove from play immediately — Don't wait to see if symptoms improve on the sideline.
2. Seek medical evaluation — A physician, ideally a pediatric concussion specialist, should assess the child, often within 24 to 48 hours.
3. Rest, but the right kind — Complete rest for the first 24 to 48 hours makes sense. Strict rest beyond that doesn't speed recovery. Light activity that doesn't worsen symptoms can usually start within a few days.
4. Academic accommodations — Tell the school. A recovering child may need less screen time, shorter days, extended deadlines, or a quiet place to test.
5. Follow a graduated return-to-play protocol — Build back to full activity in stages over at least a week, advancing only when the child stays symptom-free.
6. Specialist follow-up if symptoms persist — If symptoms last more than two to four weeks, get a referral to a pediatric neurologist.

when to see a pediatric neurologist

Most concussions clear up within a few weeks with the right care. Some children develop post-concussion syndrome, where symptoms drag on for months. Others have complications that need a neurologist to evaluate and treat. Get specialist help promptly if your child has:

• Symptoms that are getting worse instead of better
• Persistent or severe headaches that don't respond to simple measures, which may also warrant evaluation for pediatric headaches more broadly
• Seizure activity or loss of consciousness at any point, which may call for pediatric EEG testing to check brain activity
• Major cognitive, emotional, or behavioral changes
• A history of multiple prior concussions

Dr. Tamara Zach MD evaluates and manages concussion at Rose Medical Pavilion with training in pediatric neurology. She assesses each child's neurological status, reviews prior history, and works with families, schools, and athletic programs toward a safe, full recovery.

resources for arizona families

Arizona families have several support systems to draw on. AHCCCS, the state's Medicaid program, covers concussion-related care for eligible children, including specialist visits and diagnostic testing. Families with younger children who show developmental concerns after a brain injury may qualify for the Arizona Early Intervention Program (AzEIP) and its coordinated services. Your pediatrician or a specialist at Rose Medical Pavilion can connect you with these.

take concussion seriously

Concussion isn't a rite of passage. It's a brain injury, and in children it calls for prompt attention, expert evaluation, and careful management. Whether your kid plays football in Scottsdale, club soccer in Chandler, or rides bikes around Tempe, recognizing the signs and acting on them is one of the best things you can do as a parent or coach.

If your child has had a head injury or is showing signs of post-concussion syndrome, the team at Rose Medical Pavilion can help. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Tamara Zach MD for pediatric concussion care in Phoenix.