The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that, “63% of concussions in high school football are from tackling.” The sport is notoriously regarded as the most dangerous high school activity, but also one of the most beloved. Lake Highland Preparatory School is not an exception to this passion for the sport as our school has 50-plus players on its varsity team participating in the spring season alone. Of these players, Reily Green, grade 12, has just joined the team after a long process of getting cleared to play with a pacemaker.
Head coach of Lake Highland’s football program, Ben Bullock, explained that the coaches and trainers, above all, prioritize the health and safety of their players, but they, “Also try to treat him like every other player in the program.” This feeling is recognized across the board by all of his teammates, but the process to get cleared and be on the team was not an easy one. Even so, Reily has become accustomed to living with a pacemaker as he explained, “I’ve had my defibrillator since January 8, 2020.”
Reily has become accustomed to participating in sports and managing his health, but not without trial. He elaborated, “The process was difficult; I battled through a few injuries during my Sophomore year of basketball. As in the summer, I fractured my heel and had back problems.” These injuries, in addition to his defibrillator, extend the process towards his clearance for an even longer time, but Reily was committed to playing a sport he loves.
Additionally, Reily also reasonably had a long process convincing and getting his parents on board with the process. He explained, “My mom was hesitant during the process, but my dad supported me playing again. So my mom wanted to do what would make me happy.” With the support of his parents, coaches, and most importantly, his team of doctors, Reily is a part of Lake Highland’s football program, playing and training in the quarterback position. Coach Bullock added that the quarterback position coincidentally in, “The style of practice that we have keeps the quarterback protected from unnecessary contact due to the position’s defenseless nature.” Although Reily’s daily routine includes more than an average player. Coach Bullock explained, “He needs to check in with the training staff each day,” and the Coaches, “Are in communication with his parents.”
Reily is part of the team and is regarded no differently than any of the others, despite the extra health precautions he needs to take. When Coach Bullock first talked with Reily about joining the program, Coach Bullock explained that he was confident because, “We are big on safety in our program, and I trust and believe in how we practice and our medical staff. I was not afraid, per se, but cautious to make sure we did everything to make sure Reily was safe.” Reily is an asset to the Lake Highland football program and a promising quarterback in his upcoming season. While Reily has to play with more precautions than his teammates, he continues to progress throughout the season. Like anything else, a defibrillator is something people learn to live with, so when asked to describe what a pacemaker is, Green explained that, “A pacemaker is a device that has leads connected to my heart that, if my heart rate gets too high, will slow it down before cardiac arrest. If it does get too high, and I do fall into sudden cardiac arrest, it will pulse an electric shock through my body to restore my heartbeat.” Football is a sport that is known for its fast-paced practices and rigorous workflow, but dedication is something that can never be replaced. The Lake Highlands football program’s staff continues to balance their players’ health while also fostering their progression on and off the field.
