Question

[Oklahoma official]

Officials duties include determining when a player is apparently unconscious?
Need rule # or case book #, can not find it anywhere, is it T or F?

[rsl]

I don't have an electronic copy of this year's rules, but last year it was in appendix B:

Suggested Guidelines for
Management of Concussion
A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that interferes with normal brain function. An
athlete does not have to lose consciousness (be “knocked out”) to have suffered a
concussion.
Common Symptoms of Concussion Include:
• headache
• fogginess
• difficulty concentrating
• easily confused
• slowed thought processes
• difficulty with memory
• nausea
• lack of energy, tiredness
• dizziness, poor balance
• blurred vision
Suggested Concussion Management:
1. No athlete should return to play (RTP) or practice on the same day of a concussion.
2. Any athlete suspected of having a concussion should be evaluated by an appropriate
health-care professional that day.
3. Any athlete with a concussion should be medically cleared by an appropriate healthcare
professional prior to resuming participation in any practice or competition.
4. After medical clearance, RTP should follow a step-wise protocol with provisions for
delayed RTP based upon return of any signs or symptoms.
For further details please see the “NFHS Suggested Guidelines for Management of
Concussion” at NFHS | National Federation of State High School Associations.
January

[JRutledge]

That appendix really does not tell the officials what we do or do not do with a concussion. These are mostly guidelines. That really is up to state or local assocation as to what your actual duties are to be in these situations.

Peace

[Oklahoma official]

I understand the guidelines, but do our duties as an official include determining if a player was unconscious.

[Raymond]

Had my first one ever in my first HS game of the season. I told HC his player had a head injury and could not return without medical clearance. Coach didn't like it at first, but even as the player was sitting on the bench for the rest of the game, it was obvious. I had the scorer annotate the time and player # at the bottom of scorebook.

If coach had tried to re-insert him into game, I would have told him I was annotating in the book that the HC said player had medical clearance.

[APG]

3-3-8

Any player 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 game and shall not return to play until cleared by an appropriate health care professional. (See NFHS Suggested Guidelines for Management of Concussion in Appendix A on page 76.)

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Oklahoma official

Officials duties include determining when a player is apparently unconscious?
Need rule # or case book #, can not find it anywhere, is it T or F?

Sounds like an old question.

It used to be true, but now they've changed from "unconscious" to "exhibits signs of a concussion".

Your guess as to what they want for a correct answer.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by rsl

• fogginess
• difficulty concentrating
• easily confused
• slowed thought processes
• difficulty with memory
• lack of energy, tiredness
• dizziness, poor balance
• blurred vision

If we could take coaches out of the game for any of these reasons, we'd be working all our games with just the players.

[jritchie]

Originally Posted by Oklahoma official

I understand the guidelines, but do our duties as an official include determining if a player was unconscious.

The answer is false. We are just to determine if they are having symptoms of a concussion, not determine whether they were actually unconscious or not.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Oklahoma official

Officials duties include determining when a player is apparently unconscious?
Need rule # or case book #, can not find it anywhere, is it T or F?

This is number 98 of the Part 2 exam.

It's a horrible question, especially since they expect a TRUE answer. The reference they give is 2-8-5.

[Scratch85]

Originally Posted by Rich

This is number 98 of the Part 2 exam.

It's a horrible question, especially since they expect a TRUE answer. The reference they give is 2-8-5.

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

Your guess as to what they want for a correct answer.

Originally Posted by jritchie

The answer is false. We are just to determine if they are having symptoms of a concussion, not determine whether they were actually unconscious or not.

FWIW, I believe "they" are expecting a TRUE answer based on 2-8-5 referencing 3-3-8. I also think this is a horrible question.

So far, I think that is 2-True, 1-Your guess and 1-False.

[Rich1]

There is a difference in the book between a player "ehibiting signs of concussion" and a player who has been "unconscious".

For the first, they are removed from the game and may return after medical evaluation. If they report to the table to check in, we are to assume that the coach has had the player evaluated and should let them into the game (all schools in Texas have a trainer at every game so it is an easy assumption for us). It is on the Coach at this point.

For the second, any player who was unconsious is not allowed to reenter the game regardless of what anyone else says.

[Scratch85]

Originally Posted by Rich1

There is a difference in the book between a player "ehibiting signs of concussion" and a player who has been "unconscious".


For the second, any player who was unconsious is not allowed to reenter the game regardless of what anyone else says.

What book?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Scratch85

FWIW, I believe "they" are expecting a TRUE answer based on 2-8-5 referencing 3-3-8. I also think this is a horrible question.

So far, I think that is 2-True, 1-Your guess and 1-False.

I didn't give that answer and I was marked as wrong. I was saying what the answer *is*, not what it should be.

[Scratch85]

Originally Posted by Rich

I didn't give that answer and I was marked as wrong. I was saying what the answer *is*, not what it should be.

I did give that answer and received a 99. I thought that may have been the one. We are never told which answer(s) are wrong. Back to the drawing board.

Thanks for the help.