Former UNM Soccer Star Alexis Ball Testifies to Congress About Concussions

Alexis Ball, a La Cueva High school valedictorian and former University of New Mexico soccer standout who saw her career cut short by concussions, told Congress Wednesday that players and coaches don’t take the injury seriously enough.

“Concussions adversely impacted my life,” Ball testified during a hearing of the Senate Commerce Committee that included medical experts and a spokesman for national committee on sports equipment. “I hope from my story you have learned that concussions and brain injury are not a minor injury.”

The Senate – spearheaded by Sen. Tom Udall, D.M. – is looking into the issue of concussions, the marketing of sports safety equipment and any correlation between the two. Udall has introduced legislation that would give helmet companies nine months to improve their now-voluntary safety standards. If the manufacturers didn’t comply, the Consumer Product Safety Commission would be required to set mandatory standards. The bill would also give the Federal Trade Commission authority to pursue civil penalties against companies that make false injury prevention claims to help sell helmets and other sports equipment.

After earning top scholastic honors and being named New Mexico’s Gatorade Player of the Year at La Cueva in 2007, Ball – a speedy midfielder – went on to become the University of New Mexico’s leading goal scorer in 2007 and 2008 and earned all-conference honors. But a series of 10 concussions Ball suffered in high school and college eventually took their toll, and she began suffering debilitating headaches, dizziness and depression. In 2009, Ball was forced to hang up her cleats and retire from soccer for good.

“It was a crushing blow, yet one that needed to be done,” Ball testified. “Ultimately I had to separate my head from my heart.”

Please read more about today’s Senate hearing in tomorrow’s Journal.