Back
13 Jun

Run it straight response

Run It Straight Trend and it's Brain Injury Risks

Photo: runitstraight24

‘Run it straight,’ a current trend seen involving young people and in rugby league culture, that involves one person running directly into another in a full body tackle style collision. It’s commonly filmed and shared on social media, glorified as a test of strength or courage. But what isn’t captured on camera are the potential brain injuries that can change a life forever. 

What is ‘Run it straight’? 

‘Run it straight’ was started by a group of friends in Melbourne. They started a sporting start-up, the RUNIT Championship League. The league and trend has grown to over 82 million views on social media and 179 thousand followers with ‘Home of Collisions’ as the tagline.  

So, what is run it straight? One person lines up and runs directly into another, with both individuals bracing for impact. The winner is the player who is judged to have dominated the collision. It might take place on a field, in a backyard, at school, anywhere there’s room to run and spectators to impress.  

The challenge, surfacing last month, has received global media coverage with many rugby coaches warning that while it’s based on rugby – the principals and techniques are reckless. The appeal is often peer pressure and the desire to show physical dominance, especially among teenage boys. 

A dangerous hit to the brain 

Synapse wants people taking part in this challenge to understand the danger this activity poses to the brain. A forceful blow to the head or body can cause the brain to move inside the skull, this can result in a concussion or more severe brain injury. These injuries can happen even without loss of consciousness. 

The brain is delicate and complex. Even a single impact can cause: 

Concussion: A mild traumatic brain injury that can lead to headaches, dizziness, confusion, and memory problems. 

Cognitive and emotional changes: Difficulty concentrating, mood swings, and personality changes. 

Long-term neurological damage: Repeated head knocks, even if they seem minor, can lead to chronic issues like memory loss, depression, or a degenerative condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). 

And for young people, whose brains are still developing, the risks are even greater. Damage during this crucial time can affect school performance, relationships, mental health, and future opportunities. 

It’s not just ‘a knock’ 

In many of the ‘Run It Straight’ videos, participants bounce straight back up, but that doesn’t mean damage didn’t occur. Symptoms of concussion and other brain injuries may appear hours or days later. And once someone has had one concussion, they’re more vulnerable to another. With every impact that occurs, the risk of permanent damage increases. 

Brain injury doesn’t always look dramatic, but can have lifelong impacts. It can mean missing school or work, needing ongoing medical or psychological support, or living with an invisible disability for the rest of your life. 

Synapse is committed to raising awareness about the risks of brain injury and challenging the harmful social norms that glorify dangerous behaviour that put people at risk. 

We urge parents, coaches, educators, and young people themselves to rethink activities like ‘Run It Straight.’ Fun shouldn’t come at the cost of a lifetime of health challenges. 

See our resources for more information: 

Concussion / mild TBI 

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy 

 

Sources: