Tom Kaminski

Professor, Kinesiology and Applied Physiology University of Delaware

  • Newark DE

Prof. Kaminski is a leading expert on issues related to purposeful headers in interscholastic and intercollegiate soccer.

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1 min

Olympics 2024: Expert details the danger of headings in soccer

One of the most popular Olympic sports is soccer, and one of its most exciting plays – headers – is more commonly deployed by international teams. Given the risk of concussions during that play, experts like the University of Delaware's Thomas Kaminski will be watching the event closely during the 2024 Summer Games. Kaminski, professor of kinesiology and applied physiology in UD's College of Health Sciences, is a leading expert on concussions in soccer and serves as the sole U.S. representative on the FIFA Heading Expert Group. “FIFA is concerned about the disparity in concussions between men and women,” Kaminski said. “Women are at a higher risk of concussion due to a variety of reasons, including neck strength and overall body strength.” Concussions often occur during aerial challenges. “When players compete for the ball at the same time, they need to use their body to protect their head space, taking the strain off the head,” Kaminski said. Expect the ball to be in the air quite a bit in Olympic competition. “Many international teams tend to play the ball in the air more, but the USA will be ready for that. They know what to do,” Kaminski said. What to keep an eye out for: “Anytime a ball is scored from a header, it’s a picture of beauty in the game,” Kaminski said.

Tom Kaminski

2 min

Gold medal-worthy experts for Olympic Summer Games coverage

The University of Delaware boasts several experts who can comment on health-related topics such as injuries and training and business-focused areas like marketing and team behavior as they relate to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Matt Robinson Professor, sport management Relevant expertise: Will be in Paris and can discuss the Olympics from an onsite perspective; can give the backstory on The International Coaching Enrichment Certificate Program (ICECP) and what’s new in the Paris Olympics. Link to profile and contact Tom Kaminski Professor, kinesiology and applied physiology Relevant expertise: Can comment on the impact of heading in Olympic soccer and has studied the risks of concussions in sports for nearly three decades. Link to profile and contact Karin Silbernagel Professor, physical therapy Relevant expertise: Research aims to advance the understanding of tendon and ligament injuries and repair. Can also discuss sailing. Link to profile and contact Tim DeSchriver Associate professor, sport management Relevant expertise: Sport finance, economics and marketing Link to profile and contact Other experts: INJURIES: Tom Buckley Associate professor, kinesiology and applied physiology Relevant expertise: Head impacts from boxing. Stephanie Cone Assistant professor, biomedical engineering Relevant expertise: Studies the structure-function relationship that exists in tendons and ligaments with a special interest in changes in this relationship during growth and following injury. Mike Eckrich Clinical instructor, physical therapy Relevant expertise: Weightlifting; can talk about the difference between men’s and women’s injuries and form in the sport. Donald Ford Physical therapy Relevant expertise: Shoulder injuries/rehab expert Jeffrey Schneider Senior instructor, kinesiology and applied physiology Relevant expertise: Athletic training and injury prevention, with a particular interest in ice skating injuries. Worked with athletes competing in Winter Olympics (2002, 2006) as a strength and conditioning coach and athletic trainer. EVENTS: Jocelyn Hafer Assistant professor, kinesiology and applied physiology Relevant expertise: Race Walk events and how biomarkers are used in walking studies. Airelle Giordano Associate professor, physical therapy Relevant expertise: Gymnastics; she was a collegiate gymnast Kiersten McCartney Doctoral student Relevant expertise: Can chat about Paralympic Triathlon (running, hand cycling, swimming). Steve Goodwin Associate professor, health behavior and nutrition sciences Relevant expertise: He is also in Paris leading a study abroad cohort. He has been to multiple Olympics, and can also speak to on-site experience, differences in games, etc. George Edelman Adjunct professor, physical therapy Relevant expertise: How the "underwaters” technique gives Olympians an edge. BUSINESS: John Allgood II Instructor, sport management Relevant expertise: Sport business management, event management SCIENCE: Joshua Cashaback Assistant professor, biomedical engineering Relevant expertise: Specializes in neuromechanics and control of human movement. His research falls under two major themes: The neuroplasticity and adaptation research line tests how reinforcement feedback can subserve our ability to acquire new motor skills.

Tom KaminskiMatthew RobinsonTim DeSchriverKarin Gravare Silbernagel

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Biography

Tom Kaminski is a leading expert on issues related to purposeful headers in interscholastic and intercollegiate soccer. His research interests include concussions, sports-related mild traumatic brain injuries and ankle instability. He co-directs the Athletic Training Research Laboratory at UD's Human Performance Laboratory and is part of a team working on the landmark NCAA/Department of Defense project examining the history of concussions in intercollegiate sports.

Industry Expertise

Health and Wellness
Sport - Professional

Areas of Expertise

Chronic Ankle Instability
Repetitive Head Impacts
Recovery Assessment

Media Appearances

Soccer, concussions and women | UDaily

University of Delaware  online

2021-12-14

Kaminski, a leading expert with decades of experience in research in this specialized area, was invited to speak at the conference in a discussion entitled, "Medical and Scientific Challenges in Women's Football."

“I’m humbled by the opportunity,” said Kaminski. “Because Manchester United, arguably, is the most popular brand of soccer in the world in terms of professional league...it’s top shelf stuff.”

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Junior sport: age categories and soccer headers

ABC Radio National  online

2019-06-21

Guests:
Jamie Salter - High Performance Pathway Manager, Swimming Australia
William, Charlie, Leo, Luke - Under 8 soccer players
Thomas Kaminski - Director of Athletic Training Education, University of Delaware

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Avoiding the “Bobblehead Effect”: Strength Training Could Help Soccer Players

Scientific American  online

2018-06-29

Upper-body strength could even mitigate a major health concern among soccer players: brain injury from repeated headers, according to Thomas Kaminski, director of the Athletic Training Education Program at the University of Delaware. Kaminski’s own research investigates ways to reduce soccer’s adverse effects on the brain.

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Articles

Incidence of Concussion and Associated Risk Factors in Collegiate Soccer: Findings from the NCAA-DoD CARE Consortium

Science and Medicine in Football

2023

This retrospective cohort study aims to examine concussion incidence rates (IR) in collegiate soccer players and compare IRs based on risk factors including sex, competition level, games/practices, history of concussion, and playing position. Collegiate soccer players were recruited (n = 2,471) from 23 institutions from the NCAA-DoD Concussion Assessment, Research, and Education (CARE) Consortium. Incidence rates for concussion per 1000 athlete exposures (AEs) were calculated across the 2015-16/2016-17 seasons. Incidence rates (IR) comparing risk factor groups were also calculated. A total 162 concussions occurred during the study, for an IR of 0.08/1000 AEs. Females were more likely to have a concussion than males overall (IR = 1.47), and were more likely to have a concussion in games (IR = 1.42) and practices (IR = 2.91).

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Similar Concussion Rates in Spring Football and Preseason: Findings From the Concussion Assessment, Research and Education Consortium

Journal of Athletic Training

2023

Context
Increasing attention has been directed toward identifying aspects of football participation for targeted policy change that reduces the concussion risk. Prior researchers evaluated concussion risks during the preseason and regular seasons, leaving the spring season largely unexplored.
Design
In this nationally representative observational investigation of 19 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I collegiate football programs, we assessed concussion rates and head impact exposures during the preseason, regular season, and spring practices from 2014 to 2019. All participating programs recorded the incidence of concussions, and a subset (n = 6) also measured head impact exposures.

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Sensitivity and Specificity of the ImPACT Neurocognitive Test in Collegiate Athletes and US Military Service Academy Cadets with ADHD and/or LD: Findings from the NCAA-DoD CARE Consortium

Sports Medicine

2023

Background and Objective
Computer-based neurocognitive tests are widely used in sport-related concussion management, but the performance of these tests is not well understood in the participant population with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and/or learning disorder (LD). This research estimates the sensitivity and specificity performance of the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) computer-based neurocognitive test in identifying concussion in this population.

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Accomplishments

Eastern Athletic Trainers’ Association (EATA) 49’ Club (Hall of Fame)

2020

National Academy of Kinesiology Fellowship

2019

Marietta College Distinguished Alumnus Award

2018

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Education

University of Virginia

PhD

Sports Medicine

1996

University of Arizona

MS

Exercise and Sport Science

1985

Marietta College

BS

Sports Medicine

1984

Affiliations

  • National Academy of Kinesiology
  • American College of Sport Medicine (ACSM
  • Society of Health and Physical Education (SHAPE America)
  • American Kinesiology Association (AKA)
  • Delaware Athletic Trainers’ Association (DATA)
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Languages

  • English

Event Appearances

Electropuncture for the treatment of chronic ankle instability

(2022) 9th International Ankle Symposium  Virtual

Sagittal Plane Energy Absorption during Side Hops among Individual with Anterior Cruciate Ligament Deficit

(2022) 9th World Congress of Biomechanics  Taipei, Taiwan

"De-ICED”: Weaning Athletic Trainers off Their Dependency on Rest-Ice-Compression 2022 and Beyond!

(2022) NATA 73rd Annual Meeting and Clinical Symposia  Philadelphia, PA

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Patents

Materials and methods for enhancing muscle performance and recovery from fatigue

US6100287A

2000

The subject invention pertains to compositions and methods for enhancing muscle performance and recovery from fatigue in humans and animals. In a specific embodiment, the unique formulation is a glycine and L-arginine monohydrochloride salt of alphaketoisocaproic acid calcium (GAKIC).

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