Head injury

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by scrounge

That certainly seems to be what it says. As I read it, the plain text of subsection 3 (Sec1.3.a) requires the coach to hold out a player if only one of two conditions exist: signs, symptoms, or behaviors OR a diagnosed concussion. Sec1.3.b then clearly states that, if a players is held out under Sec1.3.a, upon approval of the healthcare professional (HCP), the player may return the next day if no signs, symptoms, or behaviors are present. In this case, both HCP approval AND lack of signs are required.

The only exception is that provided under subsection 4 (Sec1.4), the blanket provision allowing a licensed athletic trainer to make a final and unchallenged determination/diagnosis and same day return. This makes no sense to me - a trainer can return a player the same day but a neurologist can't. Doesn't that seem backwards?

I think the protocol is that the trainer is the one that will be present, not the neurologist. If the immediate assessment is that it is not a concussion, the player can return. They'll never get to a neurologist before the game ends...but it allows for the trainer to consult with one if there is one available. However, once someone thinks it is a concussion (even the lessor trained trainer), it is treated as a concussion and the player must stay out for a minimum of time.