Effective January 1, 2016 all CJSA clubs are required to “make available a written or electronic statement regarding concussions to each youth athlete and a parent or legal guardian of each youth athlete participating in the youth athletic activity. Such written or electronic statement shall be made available upon registration of each youth athlete and shall be consistent with the most recent information provided by the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding concussions.”1
To comply with the law, and to provide consistent guidelines for all CJSA clubs, CJSA has developed a two (2) page concussion awareness document (Attachment 1). The document is based on the Center for Disease Control (“CDC”) Heads Up Concussion parent and athlete guidelines.
The document must be made available to the player at the time of registration. How a club elects to make the material available is up to the individual club. Clubs could elect to:
- Incorporated the guidelines into their club’s online registration system
- Hand the guidelines out to each player when registering
- Mail the guidelines to each player
CJSA also recommends posting the guidelines on the club’s website and sending it out in the club’s newsletter if applicable. Please click on the link below to get your copy for your club. You will be able to customize it.
CJSA AND NORTHWEST DISTRICT CONCUSSION AWARENESS FORM
U.S. Soccer Concussion Initiative 2016
The following information has been released by US Soccer on Concussion Guidelines. Please read it carefully and implement immediately.
Games and Practices Where No HCP is Present
(HCP refers to Health Care Professional, RTP is Return to Play)
a.) U.S. Soccer recommends to the Implementing Members and all Organization Members that where no HCP is present at a game or practice, any player who sustains a significant blow to the head or body, who complains about or is exhibiting symptoms consistent with having suffered a concussion or is otherwise suspected of having sustained a concussion, must be evaluated by an HCP before the player will be allowed to return to practice or play.
(1) No coach shall permit a player who has been removed from a game for a concussion assessment to RTP until cleared to do so by an HCP.
(2) If a coach seeks to allow a player who been removed from a game for a concussion assessment to re-enter the game, the referee shall allow the player to return to the field but shall (a) immediately stop play,
(b) direct the player to leave the field of play and
(c) direct the coach to remove the player and select a substitute.
(3) If a coach seeks to allow a player to re-enter the game who been removed from a game for a concussion assessment, the referee shall issue a warning to the coach. If a coach persists in seeking to allow such player to re-enter the game after having been issued a warning, the referee shall be entitled to take such other disciplinary measures as are permitted.
b.) Unless an HCP determines that the player has not suffered a concussion and clears the player to RTP, the player will not be permitted to return to practice or play until the player has successfully completed the graduated RTP protocol described below and has been cleared to RTP by a physician.
If a player is injured and the coach or trainer enters the field, the player MUST leave the field of play.
If the coach decides that the player is able to continue, the player can reenter at the next legal substitution.
If the Referee determines that the player is not FIT to continue the match, stop the game and the coach MUST remove the player.
This process can be performed as many times as needed until they get the message.
Referees are required to write a REPORT of all concussion related incidences!!!
For more information select the following link:
U.S. SOCCER CONCUSSION GUIDELINES
