CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- With school sports picking up, there's always a risk for injuries. One injury doctors see, especially in contact sports, is concussions. UVA Health is doing something to help.

They are announcing a new concussion clinic for young athletes as part of the orthopedic center on Ivy Road.

The clinic is designed for youth and teen athletes experiencing persistent symptoms after sustaining a concussion.

This is not for concussion clearance, or the thumbs-up for an injured player to return to action. Instead, at this clinic, different treatments target specific symptoms that don't seem to be getting better. Providers will identify the symptoms, why they are happening, and where they are coming from, then refer the patient to the right specialist. Treatment lengths may vary depending on the symptom.

Dr. Racheal Smetana with UVA Health says there are ways to prevent concussions from happening in the first place.

"I really encourage athletes, parents, and coaches to follow the rules of the game and to be mindful of all the different policies that have been recently coming out to help reduce risk. I really encourage parents and coaches to talk to their kids about the importance of reporting if they don't feel like themselves," she says.

She says taking a couple of days or a week off from playing and practicing is better than keeping quiet. Not reporting could lead to a risk of re-injury or longer recovery.

Some concussion symptoms include headaches, nausea, dizziness or confusion.

The clinic is by referral and is open on Wednesday afternoons.