Tragedy on the field

Tom Cutinella, a football player in Shoreham-Wading River High School, died after a game last week. Cutinella, 16, had blocked a player from John H. Glenn High School during an Oct. 1 game. He collided with the opposing player and collapsed soon afterward. Cutinella died at Huntington Hospital a few hours later.

“Our hearts go out from the Oceanside School District to the family of the young man in Shoreham-Wading River who was fatally injured during a football game,” the Oceanside School District said in a statement. “We extend our condolences to his teammates, coaches, friends and everyone affected by this tragic accident.”

In 2013, eight high school players died directly from playing football, and another eight died indirectly, according to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. That’s less than one death for every 100,000 football players. However, more high school athletes die or are seriously injured while playing football than any other sport, according to the University of North Carolina’s National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury research.

The Oceanside School District also said it takes student-athlete safety “very seriously.” The coaches are required to take a course on concussion management, and parents and players are given information on concussion management from the New York State Public High School Athletic Association. The National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment approves all of the helmets and equipment. A Certified Athletic Trainer is at both practices and games.

Certified Athletic Trainers specialize in the prevention and treatment of athlete injuries.