Some new info from NFHS re: concussion mgt.

[HLin NC]

The summer edition of NF Official's Quarterly has a two page article.

The NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, ....developed new guidelines for the management of a student exhibiting signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion. These guidelines will go into all NFHS rules books for 2010-11. The language will read: Any 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 be removed from the contest and shall not return to play until cleared by an appropriate health-care professional.

Given that the vast majority of concussed athletes do not lose consciousness yet often show signs, symptoms, and behaviors of concussion, the NFHS SMAC strongly believes that officials must be empowered to remove these athletes from play.......

Neither officials, nor coaches, are expected to "diagnose" a concussion...

The ...official is not responsible for the evaluation or management of the participant following their removal ...The responsibility ...falls upon the head coach, appropriate health-care professional or other individual designated by school administrators. If an appropriate health-care professional on site determines that the athlete HAS NOT suffered a concussion, the athlete may return to play. If there is no appropriate health-care pro. available to evaluate the athlete...SHOULD NOT be allowed by the coach to return....

The official does not need written permission for an athlete to return to competition nor does the official need to verify the credentials of the approp. HC professional.
...compliance is a health and safety issue that is clearly the responsibility of the head coach and school admininistration, NOT the official.

An appropriate health care professional must be determined by each member state association and/or school district with respect to state laws and local preferences..... and may, depending on controlling law, include MD's, DO's and certified athletic trainers.

[mbyron]

The official does not need written permission for an athlete to return to competition nor does the official need to verify the credentials of the approp. HC professional.
...compliance is a health and safety issue that is clearly the responsibility of the head coach and school admininistration, NOT the official.

That's the piece I've been seeking. I hope it's in the new manual so that it's official.

[BigGref]

Has anyone's state association came out yet about who constitutes a "qualified healthcare person"

I think I commented previously but I'm glad they made it clear in the.. tear... last paper issue of Officials Quarterly, that we will NOT be liable if it a player is found to hide a concussion and play again getting more severely injured (not saying we won't be named in a suit, but discovery and any lawyer worth anything will have your named dropped within a week)

[mbyron]

Well, OQ isn't exactly a controlling legal authority, so we'll have to see about lawsuits. But the rule clearly puts the burden on the coaching staff to determine whether it's safe for a player to return to the game. I expect that many schools will play CYA and have a physician on the sidelines.