WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

CONCUSSIONS:

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Don Muenz, OHSAA Director of Soccer Officiating Development

CONCUSSIONS: SIGNS, SYMPTOMS, BEHAVIORS

1. IMMEDIATE STOPPAGE & REMOVAL

2. FOLLOW PROTOCOL FOR POSSIBLE RETURN

ANY SIGNS, SYMPTOMS OR BEHAVIORS CONSISTENT WITH CONCUSSION

RISKS AT THE FIELD…

WORSENING SYMPTOMS

INCREASED RISK OF FURTHER INJURY

INCREASED RISK OF DEATH

CONTINUED PARTICIPATION RISKS:

RISKS AT THE FIELD…

SCHOOL-AGE BRAIN DOES NOT RECOVER QUICKLY ENOUGH

NEED FOR EVALUATION

NEED FOR RETURN TO PLAY PLAN

WHY SO CAREFUL?

CONCUSSIONS:SIGNS, SYMPTOMS, BEHAVIORS

1. IMMEDIATE STOPPAGE & REMOVAL

2. FOLLOW PROTOCOL FOR POSSIBLE RETURN

ANY SIGNS, SYMPTOMS OR BEHAVIORS CONSISTENT WITH CONCUSSION

SIGNS,SYMPTOMS,BEHAVIORS OBSERVED BY OTHERS:

SIGNS,SYMPTOMS,BEHAVIORS

AS REPORTED BY ATHLETE:• Headache• Nausea• Balance problems or dizziness• Double vision or fuzzy vision• Sensitivity to light or noise• Feeling sluggish• Feeling foggy or groggy• Concentration or memory problems• Confusion

WHO ENFORCES THE RULE?

COACHES

CONTEST OFFICIALS

ADMINISTRATORS

MEDICAL PERSONNEL

ALL OF THE ADULTS:

WHAT DO COACHES DO?

REVIEW AND KNOW SIGNS, SYMPTOMS & BEHAVIORS OF CONCUSSION

PROHIBIT PARTICIPATION IN MATCH OR PRACTICE BY ATHLETE WHO SHOWS SIGNS, SYMPTOMS OR BEHAVIORS

COACH NOT A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL

HAS NO AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE IF THERE HAS BEEN A CONCUSSION

ENSURES PLAYER’S PARENTS ARE NOTIFIED & STUDENT IS REFERRED TO A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL

WHAT DO CONTEST OFFICIALS DO?

REVIEW & KNOW SIGNS, SYMPTOMS & BEHAVIORS OF CONCUSSION

RESPONSIBLE FOR IMMEDIATE REMOVAL IF THERE ARE SIGNS, SYMPTOMS OR BEHAVIORS THAT MAY INDICATE A POSSIBLE CONCUSSION

DO NOT PERMIT RETURN TO PLAY OF ANY SUCH PLAYER WITHOUT WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION PRESENTED TO HEAD REFEREE

WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION MUST STATE THAT ATHLETE WAS NOT CONCUSSED

MORE CONTEST OFFICIALS

NOT EXPECTED TO BE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS

NO AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE IF THERE HAS BEEN A CONCUSSION

FOLLOW RETURN TO PLAY PROTOCOL

THE RETURN TO PLAY PROTOCOL OR “RTP”

TWO OFFICIALS ALWAYS LET COACH & TRAINER KNOW WHAT THEY OBSERVED

GIVE COACH & TRAINER ALL OF THE INFORMATION

REMIND COACH OF RETURN ONLY AFTER WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION FROM AHCP

HEAD REFEREE MAKES COPY OF WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION AND KEEPS IT

HEAD REFEREE SENDS ORIGINAL AUTHORIZATION & OFFICIAL REPORT TO OHSAA, CHECKING “INJURY” BOX ON FORM

REMIND COACH AT PREMATCH CONFERENCE OF THIS PROTOCOL

PLAYER RETURNS WITH AUTHORIZATION, BUT….

OFFICIAL AGAIN SEES SIGNS, SYMPTOMS OR BEHAVIORS:

IMMEDIATE STOPPAGE

IMMEDIATE REMOVAL

TWO OFFICIALS TELL COACH & TRAINER WHAT THEY SAW

AHCP’s EVALUATION BEGINS ANEW

OHSAA OFFICIAL REPORT, CHECKING “INJURY” BOX ON WHITE FORM; SEND ORIGINAL AUTHORIZATION

MORE CONTEST OFFICIALS

STOP PLAY IMMEDIATELY

REMOVE PLAYER

OHSAA OFFICIAL REPORT, CHECKING “INJURY” BOX ON WHITE FORM

IF OFFICIAL BECOMES AWARE THAT PLAYER HAS RETURNED WITHOUT PROPER WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION:

WAS PLAYER CONCUSSED?

DETERMINED ONLY BY AHCP

CANNOT RETURN ON DAY OF CONCUSSION UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE!

“WHEN IN DOUBT, HOLD THEM OUT!”

IF EVENT CONTINUES OVER MULTIPLE DAYS, RETURN TO PLAY IS EVENT PHYSICIAN’S DECISION

APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL DECIDES

M.D., D.O. OR LICENSED ATHLETIC TRAINER ONLY

THEIR DETERMINATION OF WHETHER THERE HAS BEEN A CONCUSSION IS FINAL

AHCP DETERMINES “NO CONCUSSION”

RETURN TO PLAY ONLY WITH PROPER WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION PRESENTED TO HEAD REFEREE

HEAD REFEREE KEEPS AUTHORIZATION

HEAD REFEREE MAKES COPY OF AUTHORIZATION AND RETAINS

HEAD REFEREE FILES OHSAA OFFICIAL REPORT WITH ORIGINAL WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION

IF AHCP DETERMINES “NO CONCUSSION”:

THE WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION

MUST BE IN WRITING

SIGNED BY AN AHCP

IF AUTHORIZATION DOES NOT AFFIRMATIVELY STATE PLAYER DID NOT SUFFER A CONCUSSION, PLAYER CANOT RETURN

IF AUTHORIZATION STATES PLAYER SUFFERED A CONCUSSION, PLAYER CANNOT RETURN