Concussions among high school students have parents very concerned.

Anthony Sanchez of Alameda is worried about his son.

"My son runs really hard with his head down and he takes a lot of banging, so I worry about it with him," he said.

Doctors say concussion brain injuries are all too common and unpredictable.

The Pop Warner League, with players as young as 5, has new rules that are far more strict than the National Football League.

Ron Matthews, president of Alameda Wolverines Pop Football, has been concerned for years.

"Now they know that concussions are for real and permanent," Matthews said.

Matthews said any head-first hit is a penalty now. The rules were changed last year and players can be ejected from the game.

"The severity of the punishment will determine whether or not we end this catastrophic exposure," Matthews said.

Enforcing the rules is important but Bay Area doctors say a new understanding of individual athlete's genetic makeup, may be a key to unlocking the concussion puzzle.

Former NFL player Dr. Jim Kovach, now a Marin County physician, said, "We're trying to help physicians give more personalized approach to return to play after a sport concussion."

He and a few others have developed a simple cheek swab test to determine if your child is prone toward concussions.

Dr. Mark Lawler, a sports surgeon from Novato, said the test is game changer.

"You're going to see this test done in almost every single professional athlete," Lawler said.

The test will cost approximately $400. It is recommended for families of young athletes who've had a concussion.

"I think you're going to use this information to say should my child continue to play this sport" said Lawler.

The test could be available before spring practice begins.