Objective Educate Professional soccer teams and evaluate it´s effects on concussion diagnosis.

Design Retrospective evaluation of concussion diagnosis and Prospective evaluation of the effects of an education program in concussion management.

Setting FIFA Medical Center of Excellence in Brasilia.

Participants 187 professional fourth division soccer athletes (mean age 25,2). Teams that didn´t accept to participate and athletes below 18 years old were excluded.

Interventions A lecture before the championship was performed by a physician specialized in concussion to the teams about concussion´s main aspects. Athletes were then asked about their concussion history and if they had received a medical diagnosis. Athletes were also baseline evaluated. During the championship researchers were weekly in contact with the teams to determine concussion incidence.

Results 24.6% from the athletes related they had had at least one previous concussion and only one had received a diagnosis. In the regular season (3 months), 2.1% of the athletes had a concussion.

Conclusions Many athletes had already suffered concussion previously, without proper diagnosis. The efforts from the Medical department of the Brazilian Soccer Confederation have been outstanding in promoting education about concussion. Unfortunately it appears that this has not reached forth division teams (which have poor economic resources). The educational program sustained a good effect in increasing concussion diagnosis. 2,1% of the athletes where diagnosed with concussion, which is similar to previous studies on incidence. Similar programs should be encouraged for less important and poorer soccer divisions.