Concussion Rule in Ohio

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Altor

I skimmed over the last page of comments or so in this thread. And I'm not sure anybody has actually said that the officials should have removed him. Bigjohn's beef seems to be against the coaching staff/trainers, which make me wonder why he's posting about it here.

If what you are saying is true, than this is really not the place to post this honestly. If you claim officials are not expected to take players out of the game, than what the hell does that have to do with us here? We are not for the most part coaches or trainers. And BJ is making it sound like the officials were not dong their job, that is what he does here. And if the law is clear, there seems to be a lot of confusion as to what role officials actually play. I have no problem with a concussion policy, just do not put the officials as the main people responsible for what is noticed for symptoms of a medical condition. Once again the public thinks we have special powers because we have a stripped shirt on our back.

Peace

[Altor]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

just do not put the officials as the main people responsible for what is noticed for symptoms of a medical condition.

I don't think the law does put the officials as "the main people" responsible. They are, however, some of the people responsible. I guess I see it more as a shared responsibility.

It doesn't matter whether it is a coach or an official, whomever sees the concussion symptoms had a responsibility to remove the athlete and keep them from returning.

[bigjohn]

Does the R have a responsibility to ask the trainer, "was he removed for head injury/concussion symptoms?"
For this rule to have any validity, I think he does.

This was sent to all coaches and officials. When a player is suspended, that is the R's duty to enforce, don't you think?

http://www.ohsaa.org/members/Memos/2013-08-30.pdf

[JRutledge]

What if the R has not idea why a player is removed from the game?

Once again you are asking the wrong people to be responsible for something that could easily take place without their knowledge. This is not basketball or soccer where every substitution is made with the direct supervision of the officials. Football players leave or enter the field anytime they get ready and often officials are making sure they have 11 on a side.

Peace

[bigjohn]

What if the R has not idea why a player is removed from the game?

Yeah, well the reason everyone has had this class on concussion signs and symptoms are so he can see just that and implies that he should recognize when a player is being checked out on the field and notice this woosiness and wobbly appearance as he is being helped from the field by the trainer. This should be enough for him to decide that the coach should be informed that #5 is ineligible for the remainder of the day and can not return to play until cleared by proper medical authority as is stated in the release form I posted. Read #3, this is being sent to all officials and coaches and is clear that the player is suspended.

[bigjohn]

Friday Night Ohio

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by bigjohn

Yeah, well the reason everyone has had this class on concussion signs and symptoms are so he can see just that and implies that he should recognize when a player is being checked out on the field and notice this woosiness and wobbly appearance as he is being helped from the field by the trainer. This should be enough for him to decide that the coach should be informed that #5 is ineligible for the remainder of the day and can not return to play until cleared by proper medical authority as is stated in the release form I posted.

Having a class has nothing to do with recognizing if a player left the field for a concussion or concussion like symptoms. The player might be 50 yards downfield and the Referee might not even see the player go off the field. The Referee is concentrating on the line and the QB, not receivers downfield or even secondary players. So taking a class is not going to change that fact. Unless you want the official to ball watch, which they do not do. And this is why you have no idea how little sense this makes to require one official who is not watching all areas of the field just under their mechanics to know if a player has left the field for some kind of concussion.

Peace

[bigjohn]

Highlights of the OHSAA Concussion Policy :: Nationwide Children's Hospital


What is the role of contest officials in administering the rule?

Officials are to review and know the signs and symptoms of concussion and to direct immediate removal of any athlete who displays these signs or symptoms.
An official shall not permit the athlete who has been removed under this rule to return to competition without written medical authorization presented to the head official.
If a contest official is aware that a student has been permitted to return to competition without written authorization from a physician or licensed athletic trainer, that official shall immediately stop play and remove that student from competition and report the incident to the Ohio High School Athletic Association
Note that officials are not medical professionals and have no authority to determine whether or not student has sustained a concussion. The official is responsible for directing removal when he or she observes signs and symptoms that may indicate a student is concussed.