MADISON, Wis. -- As the fall sports season begins, a new study is showing a significant increase in concussions.

The report comes out at the same time the American Academy of Pediatrics is issuing new guidelines on what to do about sports-related concussions.

The study found that emergency room visits have tripled for teens receiving head injuries while playing organized sports.

In Wisconsin, coaches, parents and players are better prepared at recognizing and treating concussions than just about anywhere else in the country, WISC-TV reported.

More teens playing sports like football, hockey, basketball and soccer are ending up in emergency rooms after suffering hard hits, WISC-TV reported.

"I think athletes are faster, stronger, quicker, more powerful now, and I think you add it all up and I think that adds to people's more awareness now of concussions happening," said Chris Zwettler, athletic director at Edgewood High School.

Doctors said that awareness might be another reason for the statistical increase, which also includes double the concussion numbers for children ages 8 to 13 in organized sports.

"I think that 20 to 30 years ago, kids didn't report concussions. Lots of athletes played with concussions because they didn't know any better. Now I think we are making some progress in getting youngsters and coaches to identify concussions, get them in to see their physician and to rest when they shouldn't play," said Dr. Gregory Landry, a University of Wisconsin team physician.

New guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics are similar to those already instituted by the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletics Association.

The WIAA guidelines say that a student who displays symptoms of a concussion or is rendered unconscious may not return to practice or competition during the same day without a physician's written approval.

"I tell all my coaches, tell all the parents (that) our athletic trainers have the final say," Zwettler said.

Edgewood High School had a student hurt in a football game last week, but the player is recovering, WISC-TV reported.

Edgewood High School is also one of the first in the area to use cutting-edge software that measures a baseline cognitive ability of each athlete in a high-impact sport.

Athletes take the test every fall. That way, if there is a concussion-type of injury during the season, the athlete can re-take the test and doctors can measure the healing progress.

The WIAA and UW Health both provide free clinics for coaches, parents and athletes to teach them how to recognize and understand the danger of concussions.

"I think the main message is for athletes to admit when they're hurt and also not to try to return to play until they're absolutely back to normal," Landry said.

Some symptoms of a concussion include headache, nausea, an inability to get up or walk straight or dizziness. Doctors said those symptoms generally resolve within seven to 10 days. Doctors said teens with concussions not only need physical rest to heal, but also cognitive rest from homework, TV and video games.