PITTSBURGH -- The Penguins Foundation and UPMC Sports Medicine will celebrate an unprecedented five years for the Heads UP Program, an innovative concussion awareness and testing program for young athletes. Registration will begin June 13. Since 2011, the Heads UP Program has tested over 17,000 young athletes.
The 2016 program runs from June 13 through July 29. Free neurocognitive baseline testing will be available on a first-come, first served basis for 5,000 athletes ages 10-14. In addition, the first 3,000 athletes will receive a balance disc with exercise protocol to improve balance and strengthen core stability
For younger athletes 7 to 9 years of age, a limited amount of the pediatric version of the baseline test is available in July, and will be provided only at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry and the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on the South Side of Pittsburgh.