| Section: | 5000 Students | | Policy Name: | REGULATION Student Sports: Concussions | | Policy Number: | 5112 | | Date Approved: | 11/10/2014 | | Last Revised: | N/A |
Student Sports – Concussions
Concussion Management in Student Sports
A. Duties of the Athletic Director or Administrator in Charge of Athletics:
1.) Annually, each spring, the Athletic Director or the administrator in charge of athletics, if there is no Athletic Director, shall review, with the District's Medical Advisor and athletic trainer, any changes that have been made regarding the management of concussion and head injuries.
2.) By the conclusion of the school year, the Athletic Director or administrator in charge of athletics will identify the competitive sport activities in the District for which compliance with the concussion policy is required. A list of competitive sports activities and the District's policy and procedures will be distributed to all members of the coaching staff.
3.) The Athletic Director or the administrator in charge of athletics, if there is no Athletic Director, shall be responsible for determining that all coaches of intramurals or interscholastic sports have fulfilled the required initial training and subsequent follow-up regarding concussions prior to the coach's commencement of his/her assignment.
B. Training of Coaches
All coaches shall undergo training in head injuries and concussion management as required by state statute, in a program approved by the State Board of Education. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has made available a tool kit, "Heads Up: Concussion in High School Sports," which can provide additional information for coaches, athletes, and parents.
C. Parent/Student Information Sheet
On a yearly basis, a concussion consent and information sheet shall be signed and returned by the student athlete and the athlete's parent/guardian prior to the student athlete's initiating practice or competition. This information sheet may be incorporated into the parent permission sheet which permits students to participate in extracurricular athletics. Beginning with the school year commencing July 1, 2015, the District will utilize the informed consent form developed or approved and made available by the State Board of Education.
D. Coaches Responsibility
1.) Based on mechanism of injury, observation, history and unusual behavior and reactions of the athlete, even without loss of consciousness, assume a concussion has occurred if the head was hit and even the mildest of symptoms occur. The student athlete who is suspected of training a concussion in a practice or game shall be immediately removed from play.
2.) If confusion, unusual behavior or responsiveness, deteriorating condition, loss of consciousness, or concern about neck and spine injury exists, the athlete should be referred at once for emergency care.
3.) If no emergency is apparent, the athlete should be monitored every 5 to 10 minutes regarding mental status, attention, balance, behavior, speech and memory until stable over a few hours. If appropriate medical care is not available, an athlete even with mild symptoms should be sent for medical evaluation.
4.) Upon removal from the athletic activity, the coach or other qualified school employee shall notify the athlete's parent/guardian that the student athlete has exhibited the signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion or has been diagnosed with a concussion. Every reasonable effort shall be made to immediately provide such notification, but not later than twenty-four hours after such removal.
5.) No athlete suspected of having a concussion should return to the same practice or contest, even if symptoms clear in 15 minutes, no sooner than twenty-four hours after removal
and only after the athlete and his/her parent/guardian completes the State Board of Education concussion education plan and the athlete receives written clearance from a licensed health care professional trained in the evaluation and management of concussions.
E. Return to Play After Concussion
1.) A student athlete who has been removed from play may not participate in any supervised team activities involving physical exertion, including, but not limited to practices, games, or competitions, sooner than twenty-four hours* after such athlete was removed from play until the athlete is evaluated by a licensed health care provider trained in the evaluation and management of concussions and receives a written clearance to return to play from that health care provider [or: Any athlete removed from play because of a concussion must have written medical clearance from an appropriate health care professional before he/she can resume practice or competition] and not until the student athlete and his/her parent/guardian completes the State Board of Education concussion education plan.
Note: CIAC requirements indicate that no athlete shall return to participation on the same day of concussion.
*P.A. 10-62 does not require a 24 hour waiting period before an athlete may return to participate in team activities. However, the law does require written clearance from a licensed health care professional.
2.) After medical clearance, the return to play by the athlete should follow a step-wise protocol with provisions for delayed return to play based on return of any signs or symptoms.
3.) The medical clearance return to play protocol is as follows:
a. No exertion activity until asymptomatic.
b. When the athlete appears clear, begin low-impact activity such as walking, stationary bike, etc.
c. Initiate aerobic activity fundamental to the specific sport such as skating, or running and may also begin progressive strength training activities.
d. Begin non-contact skill drills specific to sport such as dribbling, fielding, batting, etc.
e. Full contact in practice setting.
f. If athlete remains asymptomatic, he/she may return to game/play.
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