WHAT YOU NEED TO
KNOW
CONCUSSIONS:
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Don Muenz, OHSAA Director of Soccer Officiating Development
CONCUSSIONS: SIGNS,
SYMPTOMS, BEHAVIORS
ANY SIGNS, SYMPTOMS OR BEHAVIORS
CONSISTENT WITH CONCUSSION
1.
IMMEDIATE STOPPAGE & REMOVAL
2.
FOLLOW PROTOCOL FOR POSSIBLE RETURN
RISKS AT THE FIELD…
CONTINUED PARTICIPATION RISKS:

WORSENING SYMPTOMS

INCREASED RISK OF FURTHER INJURY

INCREASED RISK OF DEATH
RISKS AT THE FIELD…
WHY SO CAREFUL?

SCHOOL-AGE BRAIN DOES NOT RECOVER
QUICKLY ENOUGH

NEED FOR EVALUATION

NEED FOR RETURN TO PLAY PLAN
CONCUSSIONS:SIGNS,
SYMPTOMS, BEHAVIORS
ANY SIGNS, SYMPTOMS OR BEHAVIORS
CONSISTENT WITH CONCUSSION
1.
IMMEDIATE STOPPAGE & REMOVAL
2.
FOLLOW PROTOCOL FOR POSSIBLE
RETURN
S IGNS ,S YMPTOMS ,B EHAVIORS
OBSERVED BY OTHERS:
•
Appears dazed or
stunned
•
Answers questions
slowly
•
Is confused about
assignment
•
Loses consciousness
•
Shows behavior or
personality changes
•
Forgets plays
•
Is unsure of game,
score or opponent
•
Can’t recall events
prior to hit
•
Moves clumsily
•
Can’t recall events
after hit
S IGNS ,S YMPTOMS ,B EHAVIORS
AS REPORTED BY ATHLETE:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Headache
Nausea
Balance problems or dizziness
Double vision or fuzzy vision
Sensitivity to light or noise
Feeling sluggish
Feeling foggy or groggy
Concentration or memory problems
Confusion
WHO ENFORCES THE RULE?
ALL OF THE ADULTS:

COACHES

CONTEST OFFICIALS

ADMINISTRATORS

MEDICAL PERSONNEL
WHAT DO COACHES DO?

REVIEW AND KNOW SIGNS, SYMPTOMS &
BEHAVIORS OF CONCUSSION

PROHIBIT PARTICIPATION IN MATCH OR
PRACTICE BY ATHLETE WHO SHOWS SIGNS,
SYMPTOMS OR BEHAVIORS

COACH NOT A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL

HAS NO AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE IF THERE
HAS BEEN A CONCUSSION

ENSURES PLAYER’S PARENTS ARE NOTIFIED &
STUDENT IS REFERRED TO A MEDICAL
PROFESSIONAL
WHAT DO CONTEST
OFFICIALS DO?

REVIEW & KNOW SIGNS, SYMPTOMS &
BEHAVIORS OF CONCUSSION

RESPONSIBLE FOR IMMEDIATE REMOVAL IF THERE
ARE SIGNS, SYMPTOMS OR BEHAVIORS THAT MAY
INDICATE A POSSIBLE CONCUSSION

DO NOT PERMIT RETURN TO PLAY OF ANY SUCH
PLAYER WITHOUT WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION
PRESENTED TO HEAD REFEREE

WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION MUST STATE THAT
ATHLETE WAS NOT CONCUSSED
MORE CONTEST OFFICIALS

NOT EXPECTED TO BE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS

NO AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE IF THERE HAS
BEEN A CONCUSSION

FOLLOW RETURN TO PLAY PROTOCOL
THE RETURN TO PLAY
PROTOCOL OR “RTP”

TWO OFFICIALS ALWAYS LET COACH & TRAINER KNOW WHAT
THEY OBSERVED

GIVE COACH & TRAINER ALL OF THE INFORMATION

REMIND COACH OF RETURN ONLY AFTER WRITTEN
AUTHORIZATION FROM AHCP

HEAD REFEREE MAKES COPY OF WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION
AND KEEPS IT

HEAD REFEREE SENDS ORIGINAL AUTHORIZATION & OFFICIAL
REPORT TO OHSAA, CHECKING “INJURY” BOX ON FORM

REMIND COACH AT PREMATCH CONFERENCE OF THIS
PROTOCOL
PLAYER RETURNS WITH
AUTHORIZATION, BUT….

OFFICIAL AGAIN SEES SIGNS, SYMPTOMS OR
BEHAVIORS:

IMMEDIATE STOPPAGE

IMMEDIATE REMOVAL

TWO OFFICIALS TELL COACH & TRAINER WHAT THEY
SAW

AHCP’s EVALUATION BEGINS ANEW

OHSAA OFFICIAL REPORT, CHECKING “INJURY” BOX
ON WHITE FORM; SEND ORIGINAL AUTHORIZATION
MORE CONTEST OFFICIALS
IF OFFICIAL BECOMES AWARE THAT
PLAYER HAS RETURNED WITHOUT
PROPER WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION:

STOP PLAY IMMEDIATELY

REMOVE PLAYER

OHSAA OFFICIAL REPORT, CHECKING “INJURY”
BOX ON WHITE FORM
WAS PLAYER CONCUSSED?

DETERMINED ONLY BY AHCP

CANNOT RETURN ON DAY OF CONCUSSION UNDER
ANY CIRCUMSTANCE!

“WHEN IN DOUBT, HOLD THEM OUT!”

IF EVENT CONTINUES OVER MULTIPLE DAYS,
RETURN TO PLAY IS EVENT PHYSICIAN’S DECISION
APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE
PROFESSIONAL DECIDES

M.D., D.O. OR LICENSED ATHLETIC TRAINER
ONLY

THEIR DETERMINATION OF WHETHER THERE
HAS BEEN A CONCUSSION IS FINAL
AHCP DETERMINES
“NO CONCUSSION”
IF AHCP DETERMINES “NO CONCUSSION”:

RETURN TO PLAY ONLY WITH PROPER WRITTEN
AUTHORIZATION PRESENTED TO HEAD REFEREE

HEAD REFEREE KEEPS AUTHORIZATION

HEAD REFEREE MAKES COPY OF AUTHORIZATION
AND RETAINS

HEAD REFEREE FILES OHSAA OFFICIAL REPORT
WITH ORIGINAL WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION
THE WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION

MUST BE IN WRITING

SIGNED BY AN AHCP

IF AUTHORIZATION DOES NOT AFFIRMATIVELY
STATE PLAYER DID NOT SUFFER A CONCUSSION,
PLAYER CANOT RETURN

IF AUTHORIZATION STATES PLAYER SUFFERED A
CONCUSSION, PLAYER CANNOT RETURN