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Concussion Awareness

SAA Concussion Protocol - Approved 03/21/2016

Any SAA athlete who exhibits signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion (such as loss of consciousness, headache, dizziness, confusion, or balance problems) shall be immediately removed from the contest and shall not return to play until cleared by an appropriate health care professional.

BACKGROUND

This protocol is intended to provide the mechanics to follow during the course of contests/matches/events when an athlete sustains an apparent concussion.

APPLICABILITY

 This policy is applicable to all SAA sports programs and activities

DEFINITIONS

For the purposes of this policy, appropriate health care professionals are defined as: physicians licensed to practice medicine in all its branches in Illinois and certified athletic trainers

RESPONSIBILITY

It is the responsibility of the sport head commissioner and sport board to ensure that all coaches and/or volunteers who work directly with SAA participants::

●are sufficiently trained in concussion protocol

●can provide proof that successful training has been completed

●are provided access to concussion related supplementary materials

●adhere to this concussion policy

PROCEDURE

Mandatory Concussion Course for Coaches

The SAA will make the CDC online concussion awareness and education program available to SAA members through the SAA website. All SAA members/coaches who work directly with children are required to successfully complete the CDC online concussion awareness and education program or an equivalent concussion training program.  The program must include information on concussion awareness training, concussion recognition, best practices for avoiding concussions, return to play guidelines, and sub-concussive trauma. The training and other supplementary materials included in the program should be reviewed by ALL SAA coaches prior to each season.

Return to Play (RTP) Policy

In all cases when an athlete is removed from a contest following a possible head injury (i.e., concussion), the athlete shall not return to play or practice until the athlete is evaluated by and receives written clearance from a licensed health care provider to return to play.