Transcript Safety in Youth Sports Act

Safety in Youth Sports Act
WPIAL Athletic Directors
March 7, 2012
Goals
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Interpretation of the Act
Educational Programming
List of Appropriate Medical Professionals
Things to consider
Questions to answer
Resources
Contact information
Foundation for the Act
• Who
– Essentially covers any coach, athlete, and parent involved in
interscholastic athletics and school sponsored organizations
• What
– Educate coaches, athletes and parents involved in athletic activities
about the management of concussions
– Ensure that an athlete who sustains a concussion is removed from
play and evaluated by an appropriate medical professional
– Safely return the athlete to play through medical clearance
• When
– July 1, 2012
Educational Materials
• Collection of forms from all parents and athletes
acknowledging that they have received and reviewed an
online concussion and traumatic brain information sheet
developed by the Department of Health and Department of
Education.
– Currently, this form is not on the DOH or DOE website
– What if a parent doesn’t have internet access?
– Will hard copies be available? How will it be distributed? Who
provides the copies?
– Which form do the parents and athletes sign to acknowledge this
content?
Educational Materials
• PIAA to meet on March 12th to discuss incorporating the
form into CIPPE
– What if athletes on club sports or other activities don’t complete the
CIPPE?
– How will their acknowledgement be collected?
CDC’s Parent/Athletic Information Sheet
Informational Meeting
• You may hold a pre-season informational meeting about the
management of concussions for athletes, parents, and
coaches.
– UPMC Sports Medicine is working on a standardized presentation
and we would be willing to assist with this educational programming.
– UPMC Sports Medicine is willing to collaborate with neighboring
schools to have regional presentations
Removal from Play
• A student who, as determined by a game official, coach
from the student’s team, certified athletic trainer, licensed
physician, licensed physical therapist, or other official
designated by the student’s school entity, exhibits signs or
symptoms of a concussion or traumatic brain injury while
participating in an athletic activity shall be removed by the
coach from participation.
– Once your coach is made aware that an athlete has concussion like
symptoms, they can not play that athlete
Return to Play
• A coach cannot return an athlete to play until cleared by an
appropriate medical professional who is trained in the
evaluation and management of concussions.
– Licensed physician
– Licensed neuropsychologist
– Licensed or certified health care professional and designated by
such licensed physician (Licensed athletic trainer)
Training Course
• Each year, all coaches must complete the concussion
management certification training course offered by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/headsup/online_training.ht
ml), the National Federation of State High School
Associations
(http://nfhslearn.com/electiveDetail.aspx?courseID=15000),
or another provider approved by the Department of Health.
– Another program seeking this authorization is the
Concussion Wise program which may be approved
shortly. (http://concussionwise.com/pennsylvania)
Training Course
• It will be your responsibility to assure that every coach
(including your club sports), every year, has completed
one of these courses prior to coaching.
Penalties
• Your district is to enforce penalties for coaches who do not
remove a concussed athlete from play or who return an
athlete to play without the proper clearance.
– 1st violation- suspension for the remainder of the season
– 2nd violation- suspension for the remainder of the season and for the
next season
– 3rd violation- permanent suspension from coaching any athletic
activity
• The Act states that these penalties take effect July 1, 2014
Other Things to Consider
• Does your district have a concussion policy?
– Include content from the Act
– Medical management plan/protocols (consult your athletic trainer)
– What is your recommendations on baseline testing?
o The use of neurocognitive testing is not required by the Act
o It can be included in the Informational Meeting
– How preseason baseline assessments can aid in the evaluation,
management and recovery process
– Academic accommodations
– Include non-athletes?
– Based upon the school district’s resources and individual
environment
Other Things to Consider
• How do you keep track of which coaches have received
the required training?
– Will you pick one course and implement that into your policy?
– Designate computer lab time around coaches’ meeting?
• Questions remain
– Ask questions to facilitate dialogue
– Waiting direction from appropriate representatives
• Review the Act with your Solicitor
Resources
• CDC
– http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/HeadsUp/youth.html
• National Federation of State High School Associations
– http://nfhslearn.com/electiveDetail.aspx?courseID=15000
• Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers Society (Access to
Concussion Wise)
– http://www.gopats.org
THANK YOU
• [email protected]
• 412/432-3770