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The Critical Importance of Neck and Head Training in Sports

Enter a high school or college weight room and take an inventory of the equipment. How many neck machines do you see? Usually none. But the proper neck exercises could save an athlete's brain.

Tom Kelso

Written by Last updated on Nov 22, 2021

Neck and head injuries can result in dire implications. The topic has gained much interest recently due to the increased documentation of debilitating cervical spinal injuries and concussions, particularly in American football. When compared to ankle, knee, or shoulder injuries – although serious, but less life threatening – cervical spine and head trauma go to the top of the list of importance.

Neck and head injuries can result in dire implications. The topic has gained much interest recently due to the increased documentation of debilitating cervical spinal injuries and concussions, particularly in American football. When compared to ankle, knee, or shoulder injuries – although serious, but less life threatening – cervical spine and head trauma go to the top of the list of importance. And it’s not just American football as the focal point: soccer, MMA, rugby, auto racing, and other combative and cervical-spine/head compromising activities need to be scrutinized when it comes to these anatomical areas.

The aforementioned sports have been around for quite some time. Why all the attention to their potential dangers, now? I believe it’s pretty simple – improved training programs and lighter (or non-existent) protective equipment have resulted in a more risky physics equation. Greater speed and force production via enhanced conditioning programs coupled with lighter-weight protective equipment (with less restriction, allowing more freedom of movement) equates to a greater amount of forces and speed that need to be dissipated on either the giving or receiving end. Simply stated, a stronger and faster athlete who generates greater force and speed can either compromise himself or his opponent if either party is physically incapable of absorbing the generated forces.

Enter many high school or college weight rooms and take an inventory of the equipment: a plethora of benches, squat racks, platforms, dumbbells, barbells, and weight plates abound. How many neck machines do you see? Usually none or maybe one. Ask the strength and conditioning coach, head sport coach, or athletic trainer what the neck and head training protocol is above and beyond their limited or non-existent equipment. Often the answer is nothing, or possibly something posted on a wall or dry-erase board. Whatever the case, it’s either not performed, done sporadically, or executed in a perfunctory manner because it’s not a priority.

In today’s day and age of more knowledge and a greater propensity for filing a lawsuit, it’s sad that one of the most vulnerable areas of the human body is either totally neglected or given only a cursory sniff of attention. If you sprain your ankle or shoulder, you miss a few weeks of competition. If you injure your cervical spine, you could find yourself confined to a wheelchair for the remainder of your life. 

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The previous grim information aside, how should coaches, trainers, and administrators address the importance of neck and head training? Simply give attention to these two areas:

  1. Make it workable. Head and neck training should be easy to understand and perform for all involved. The approach does not need to be overwhelming and time-consuming. Gie your athletes basic exercises, set/rep prescriptions, and a set schedule.
  2. Require compliance. If it’s important (which it is), then make it mandatory. Everyone does it, on schedule, and with proper effort. If it’s not done, punitive steps should be taken. Athlete’s should be made aware they are neglecting to take measures to protect an important part of the body. And for you, as a coach in today’s litigious society where lawsuits are generated from such things drinking overly hot coffee or negligence in workout supervision, don’t leave it to chance.

And remind your athletes (and yourself, perhaps) that head and neck training should not just be a “guy’ thing. Females also run the risk of neck and head injuries. Fortify that cylinder the head sits atop of regardless of gender.

If you do not have a program in place that addresses the potential of neck and head injuries, for yourself or for your athletes, I have listed below seven links that can help you get it right. The information provides both neck and head education and simple guidelines for constructing workable programs:

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Tom Kelso

About Tom Kelso

Tom Kelso is currently an Exercise Physiologist with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. He also trains clients through Pinnacle Personal & Performance Training in Chesterfield, Missouri.

For 23 years he was in the collegiate strength and conditioning profession, serving as the Head Coach for Strength and Conditioning at Saint Louis University (2004-2008), the University of Illinois at Chicago (2001-2004), Southeast Missouri State University (1991-2001), and the University of Florida (1988-1990). He got his start in the strength and conditioning field as an Assistant Strength Coach at Florida in 1984 where he was also a weight training instructor for the Department of Physical Education from 1985 to 1988.

In 2006, Tom was named Master Strength and Conditioning Coach by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association for his years of service in the field. In 1999, he was named NSCA Ohio Valley Conference Strength and Conditioning Professional of the year. In 2001, he received an honorary certification from the International Association of Resistance Trainers (I.A.R.T.).

Tom possesses C.S.C.S. and S.C.C.C. certifications with the NSCA and CSCCA, respectively. Additionally, he is certified by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board in basic instructor development and as a specialist instructor by the Missouri Department of Public Safety. In 2012, he became certified by the IBNFC as a Certified Nutrition Coach.

Tom has worked with athletes at the Olympic and professional levels, presented at various clinics/seminars, and worked several athletic-related camps. He is a strong advocate of safe, practical, and time-efficient training and has published a collection of periodical articles, book chapters, complete books, and user-friendly downloads promoting such.

Tom received a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Iowa in 1981(It's great to be a Hawkeye!) and a Master's Degree in Physical Education from Western Illinois University in 1984. He was a member of the Track and Field team at Iowa and served as a Graduate Assistant Track & Field Coach while at Western Illinois.

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