TABLE 8.

Representative Quotes for the Theme of Minimizing and Masking

Participant	Quote
Sarah	I knew it was not the smartest thing to play, I got dizzy and headaches, but I kind of ignored them and kept playing which was not too good because now I still have symptoms and everything.…So, it would be nice to get scouted and everything and get a full ride so I knew I really wanted to play in it and even if I knew I had symptoms, I would just not tell. So, I told them I was getting better and I wasn’t but I still played in some of the games, just not as much. Because I wanted to play.
Jack	[My mom said] if [I] get another one, we might have to [stop playing all together]. But I told her, you know if [the concussion] is a really bad [one] like a brain bleed then that would not be good but if [the concussion] is just a little one that lasts a little long, it is not going to stop me from playing.…Yeah, but I just thought you know, I went through school. I used to have headaches every once in a while but not all the time. But, I thought it was just you know, like I’ll have little headaches here and there, you know after that. So, I put on my helmet. I felt fine.
Charlie	Because I feel like I should be playing and I am not really scared of having a concussion. I think that I am all right, but, my parents have noticed stuff about me that I have not really noticed and they have said some things to me.
Susie	Because well I don’t like when I’m viewed differently just because I’m like in a, because I’m injured or whatever I don’t think, I don’t really know why, but I just, I didn’t like tell my teachers or anything.
Cody	So I joke around a lot about [the concussion] and say “well you guys are the ones that just sit here, and let the concussion guy do everything.” I try not to make it like I’m down all the time.