As concussion-related litigation gathers pace, a series of landmark UK test cases involving football, rugby union and rugby league could have far-reaching implications for risk professionals working in or around sport.

The outcomes of these group litigation claims are expected to clarify the legal responsibilities of national governing bodies when it comes to concussion risk management. That, in turn, could influence how insurance markets respond to historical exposures and future underwriting in sectors such as professional and amateur sport, schools, youth programmes and grassroots clubs.

For risk managers operating in these environments, the implications are becoming harder to ignore. Not only could these cases establish new standards for what constitutes adequate risk governance in sport, but insurers are already reassessing their appetite for underwriting long-tail injury risks. The result could be tighter coverage, rising premiums, or even unavailability of cover for certain organisations.

Imogen Mitchell-Webb, associate partner at Horwich Farrelly and head of its sports team, told sister-publication Insurance Times: “There isn’t precedent for this type of thing. There isn’t any concussion case law that we can look at. [These test cases] will be really important at settling whether or not you can sue for historical risk management of concussion risks.”

The claimants – a mix of former professional and amateur athletes – argue that sporting bodies failed to implement appropriate concussion protocols at the time they were playing. Although all three test cases remain in early proceedings, they could pave the way for greater legal clarity and spark wider risk and insurance repercussions.

Risk management, protocols and prevention

Mitchell-Webb noted that there are a number of best practice protocols already in place to mitigate sports linked concussion injuries – including the ‘if in doubt, sit them out’ approach adopted in grassroots sport, which sees coaches removing players from games if there is a suspected concussion – but resource constraints and inconsistency in delivering this method at lower, amateur levels remains a problem.

“The challenge is enforcing that [approach] from top level right through to grassroots,” she said. “[Coaches] are responsible for the kiddies playing on a Sunday, right through to England playing New Zealand in the Six Nations.”

Education is another crucial part of the puzzle.

“If you don’t know what concussion is, you can’t diagnose it,” Mitchell-Webb said, highlighting the burden on volunteers and grassroots referees to know what to look out for in the event of a concussion.

Harry Black, chief executive at Meliora Medical Group – which runs Return2Play, a UK provider of independent, medically led concussion care in school and youth sport – echoed Mitchell-Webb’s view about the need for improved education and risk management.

He said: “There has been significant progress in recent years, especially at the elite level. However, it’s my belief that governing bodies must do more to ensure that robust concussion protocols, education and medical access extend to grassroots and school sport, where most sport participation happens.

“There is still too much inconsistency in how concussions are recognised and managed outside of professional settings.”

He also emphasised the critical role of those on the front lines of youth sport. “Many grassroots coaches and volunteers are still unaware of current best practices,” he said.

“There is an urgent need for standardised training – backed by governing bodies – to help those at the coalface of youth sport [to] identify, remove and refer players with suspected concussions.”

The impact on insurance

With hundreds of claimants across multiple sports under review, the implications for insurers are vast.

“Players involved in this litigation have played over many decades and insurance obviously is renewed every year and it sometimes moves around to different insurers,” Mitchell-Webb said. “So a lot of the market is involved in this just because it historically goes back so far.

“[Manchester United and England footballer] Nobby Stiles’ family are involved in the football claim, for example, and he was one of the 1966 World Cup winners. So that shows you how far back this issue goes.”

And with the possibility that liability for concussion injuries could rest with different levels of the sporting hierarchy – from national bodies like the Rugby Football Union (RFU) or the Football Association (FA), to global organisations such as World Rugby – insurers could be exposed across many years and layers of cover.

“If [these organisations] were all found to be liable, it would be split between all of their insurers,” Mitchell-Webb noted.

She added, therefore, that “lots of insurers” could find themselves with clients that are liable for historic claims as a result of these test cases.

The price of injury

Quantifying the potential losses that could arise from such claims is difficult, however.

Claims linked to concussion injuries could range from relatively minor complaints to severe, life altering conditions. Mitchell-Webb explained that claims could run from £10,000 to £20,000, all the way up to millions of pounds “if somebody is disabled and if their working career was cut short”.

All in all, Mitchell-Webb said the insurance industry could be looking at claims worth “hundreds of millions” – and that this potential financial risk is already shaping the market, with appetite for insuring contact sports shrinking.

“The appetite from the insurance industry to cover these types of sports and these types of risks now is limited,” Mitchell-Webb explained. “Brokers that we speak to have fed back that it is getting harder to place these risks.

“Typically, [these injury] risks tend to be split up into smaller layers nowadays and [brokers] have to engage the whole market to get these risks covered. Back in the day, when maybe less was known, there was more appetite.”

What happens next?

The UK’s High Court is currently considering whether to allow the test case litigation to proceed as group cases, but Mitchell-Webb predicts it will be “a couple of years” before the industry learns anything substantive in terms of hearings.

Despite this, the impact on insurers is already being felt – and that uncertainty is only likely to grow.

“An answer is always better than a grey area,” she said. “And we’ve got a grey area at the moment.”

If the legal system finds in favour of claimants, it could drive significant changes to how insurers underwrite sports risks. 

For risk professionals working in sport or related sectors such as education, charities or youth development, these cases serve as a timely reminder to review historical exposure, risk protocols and insurance arrangements.

As legal definitions of acceptable concussion management are tested, insurers are already reassessing their appetite for long-tail liability. Those responsible for managing risk in sport-linked environments should act now to ensure best practice is embedded and cover remains accessible.

A week ago, I had the privilege of attending my son’s graduation from Marshall University’s Physician Assistant program. As I sat in the bleachers of the arena looking out upon the hundreds of young people who would graduate with varying degrees, I began thinking of how each of their journeys to get to the point of graduation were different.

Each of the roughly twelve-hundred who would graduate that day came from different backgrounds and experiences. However, what they shared is that each of them had experienced a journey to get to that special day in their lives.

Undoubtedly, along the way, many if not all of them at some point attempted to hurry the process to become a graduate. Now, as they sat within an hour of walking across the stage and receiving a piece of paper marking their degree earned, at least some must have wondered where the time had gone.

Surely, their parents and perhaps grandparents had.

Some of the soon-to-be graduates probably thought of their first day on campus, their first day of classes or their first exam. Likely to some or even most, it might have seemed like it was just yesterday that those things had happened. Yet, the reality is that time flies.

There is a lesson in this.

All too often in life, we are so set on our destination that we fail to enjoy the journey. This lesson applies to many aspects in life.

It surely applies to sports. Something that I’ve witnessed in youth and high school sports over the years is the rush that many are in to reach their destination.

For some, it is being in a hurry to get to the next level. It’s the youth league player that can’t wait to play middle school ball. It’s the middle schooler that can’t wait to play varsity. It’s the high school player that’s in a big rush to get to college to pursue their sport at that level. Maybe it’s the player that’s in a hurry, but it might also be their parent(s) that are rushing things along.

What’s the danger in all of it?

Well, you see, while you’re in such a hurry to reach the desired destination, you fail to enjoy the journey of getting there. It would be much like taking a trip to your favorite destination. While driving or riding to the destination, you fail to take in the many sites that are worthy of note along the way … your journey.

My fear is that we are witnessing players and parents who are in such a hurry to get to the next level that they are failing to enjoy the journey. There is much learning that will take place during the journey in getting to the destination.

If you are in too big of a hurry on your journey, you will fail to learn the lessons that are necessary for success once you reach your destination. We would all be wise to remember that time flies. What can also be said of time is that we do not get it back.

Once gone, it’s gone. So, the lesson here is that we all must slow down and enjoy the journey to our destination whatever that may be.

For the athlete, it is enjoying every experience in youth sports understanding their value as well as the fact that the time spent in youth sports is very limited. Your days of playing youth sports will be here and gone before you know it. So, enjoy every day.

For the parent, it is enjoying watching your child play a sport that they enjoy. It’s critical that you let them enjoy it as it is their time. Your time of playing and competing at that level is gone and you’re not getting it back. Remember, once again, time flies.

As a parent of two kids who played multiple sports from the age of three through college, I can attest that while it is occurring, the time seems natural. Sometimes it even seems to drag on.

However, I can tell you now that those days of enjoying them playing went by so fast. Yep, time flies. What I wouldn’t do to be able to see them play a youth or high school sport again. Those days were the best. The experiences and memories are precious.

None of us can stop time. None of us can even get time to slow down. However, what each of us has the power to do is enjoy each day of the journey toward our destination. Or for you parents, your child’s journey.

Players, slow down and enjoy your experience. Make friends, work hard, be humble in victory and learn from defeat. There are so many lessons to learn from sports if we slow down long enough to embrace the journey instead of being in such a big hurry to reach our destination. Don’t look back with regret. Rather, slow down, learn from and enjoy your journey.

You will reach your destination soon enough. Make a vow now that when your destination is reached you will not need to look back upon your journey and say, what if?

SYCAMORE TOWNSHIP, Ohio — Ohio’s Mr. Football had a week he won’t soon forget.

Moeller 2026 quarterback Matt Ponatoski earned an invitation to the Elite 11 Finals in mid-June. He was also named the Greater Catholic League South division baseball co-player of the year.

If that wasn’t enough, the shortstop was also named Ohio’s No. 1 high school baseball player in his class by Prep Baseball Ohio.

While Greater Cincinnati high school sports fans are able to see Ponatoski excel on the baseball diamondor the football field, his dedication to each sport is a foundation for the recognition.

“They don’t see all the extra work he puts in to be really good at his craft,” Moeller football coach Bert Bathiany said. “He puts in a ton of time.”

After the Moeller baseball team defeated host Vandalia Butler 4-2 on May 17, Ponatoski’s family drove him six hours to arrive in State College, Pa., at 3 a.m. to get prepared for the Elite 11 regional event.

“I actually threw well for windy conditions and lack of sleep,” Ponatoski said Friday afternoon.

On May 19, the four-star quarterback received an invitation to the Elite 11 Finals. The prestigious event is scheduled for June 17-19 at Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach, Calif.

“I think he’s going to showcase to everyone why he’s been so good for us,” Bathiany said.

The Elite 11 Finals will feature advanced one-on-one quarterback coaching, intense competition, on-field drills, classroom instruction and holistic development, according to the program’s website.

“To get the call to go compete with the 20 best in the whole USA — it’s really cool,” Ponatoski said. “I want to be in a spot where I can go compete with the best in the country.”

The Elite 11 calls itself the nation’s premier quarterback camp series and competition since it was established in 1999. It will showcase 20 elite quarterbacks from the rising senior class (Class of 2026).

Alumni include NFL quarterbacks such as Aaron Rodgers, Jalen Hurts, Jayden Daniels, Trevor Lawrence, Matthew Stafford, Caleb Williams, Jared Goff, CJ Stroud and several others.

Ponatoski is expected to be the first Greater Cincinnati quarterback to participate next month in the Elite 11 Finals since St. Xavier’s Sean Clifford in 2016.

Other local student-athletes who’ve competed since 2010 include Conner quarterback Drew Barker (2013), along with Highlands quarterback Patrick Towles (2011) and Dixie Heights quarterback Zeke Pike (2011).

Ponatoski, who threw for 4,217 yards and 57 touchdowns in 2024, said he’s looking forward to the seven-on-seven competition and other opportunities in California.

“I think I’m still pretty I would say raw in my quarterback journey,” Ponatoski said. “I work with ‘Coach K’ (Moeller quarterbacks coach George Kontsis) here, and honestly I don’t work with too many other people. Just looking forward to going down there and getting some good instruction from some of the best in the country. Seeing what other guys do and picking up on what they have to do.”

Besides the Elite 11 Finals and completing Moeller’s baseball season, Ponatoski plans to take at least two college campus visits in the next month. He said he will definitely visit Oregon and Alabama — both of which offered scholarships this month.

“Going to make it to Oregon, going to make it to Alabama for sure,” Ponatoski said. “If time allows, get to maybe another school. After that, I don’t think it’s going to be too much longer after I take those visits to make my decision.”

Ponatoski plans to play baseball and football in college. He is still considering several schools, including Alabama, Oregon, Kentucky and Arkansas.

“Maybe four, five, six schools still,” Ponatosk said. “Not trying to make my decision fast. It’d be great to get it over, but also being very detailed in my thoughts. Just to make sure I make the right decision and find the people I want to be around.”

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The Kansas City Chiefs were without star wide receiver Rashee Rice for much of their 2024 campaign after he suffered a serious knee injury in a Week 4 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Fans haven’t heard much about Rice during his recovery process, but the former Southern Methodist University Mustang recently took time out of his busy offseason schedule to hold a youth football camp in Dallas for some 300 young athletes.

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A picture of Rice’s football camp was posted to the Chiefs’ official Twitter account on Friday, May 23, just days before Kansas City’s players are set to travel back to team facilities for OTAs.

The562’s baseball coverage in 2025 is sponsored by the Millikan, Long Beach Poly, and Lakewood baseball boosters.

The562’s coverage of St. Anthony athletics is sponsored by Jane & B.I. Mais, Class of 1949.

Start strong and finish stronger.

That’s been the recipe for St. Anthony baseball this week in the CIF Southern Section Division 5 baseball playoffs, and it’s helped the Saints cook up a return to the semifinals for the first time since 2019.

St. Anthony took an early lead and leaned on its bullpen late on the way to a 7-2 quarterfinal win on Friday at Hillcrest.

Second baseman and pitcher Nick Galluccio was instrumental in executing the St. Anthony game plan. The junior led off with a single, stole second and came around to score the first run of the game before pitching the last three innings to clinch the victory.

“He’s been a catalyst and he doesn’t get blown away by the moment,” St. Anthony coach Kris Jondle said of Galluccio.

“Coach let me be the leadoff hitter for the playoffs and I’ve just got to perform,” Galluccio said. “I love this game and I bleed for it. This is my first year here as a transfer (from Mater Dei) and I’ll die for these guys. We’re all together and there’s never a dull moment (in the dugout) and we just keep it going. We always stick together and fight as a team.”

Top Saints pitchers Jaylen Butler and Benny Lane weren’t available after the marathon second-round win on Tuesday, so Jondle turned to junior Austin Cassidy (2 IP, R, H), senior A.J. Ortiz (2 IP, 2 H, 2 K) and Galluccio (3 IP, R, 3 H, 2 K) who were efficient while stranding 11 runners.

“They looked good and that was huge because we were up against it after Tuesday’s 12-inning game and all of the boys came in and threw strikes,” Jondle said. “We told them, ‘Make us beat them with the bat.’ We didn’t want to start rallies for them.”

St. Anthony third baseman Aidann Ruiz and first baseman Anthony Valdez killed a Hillcrest rally with solid defense in the fourth inning. Ruiz went behind the bag on a slow chopper, and got to Valdez who made a nice pick for the inning’s final out.

“Basically all you have to do is get behind the ball, trust your arm, trust your first baseman and trust your team,” Ruiz said. “If you trust you can make the play, you make the play.”

Ruiz also started the 4-run rally in the seventh inning to add insurance runs to a 2-run lead. The sophomore platted Benny Lane and pinch-runner Matthew James with a double.

Lane scored twice, as did Butler’s spot in the lineup after he scored Galluccio with a double in the top of the first inning. Senior John Arnold also had an RBI knock in the first. The shortstop has reached base in eight of his last nine trips to the plate.

The St. Anthony offense was particularly patient at the plate against Hillcrest ace Chris Sampson. He had 79 nine pitches after three innings and exited after the fourth. The Saints saw three bullpen arms in the 4-run seventh inning.

“We’re playing as a team, no one is above anyone, everyone is together, we’re a great group of guys,” Ruiz said. “I’m proud. It’s my first year here but it feels like I’ve been here for eight (years) already.”

St. Anthony hosts Northwood in the semifinals on Tuesday at Clark Field.