February22,2016
To:
MSYSALeaguePresidents&Delegates
From: ThomasFaro,MSYSAExecutiveDirector
Re:
USSoccerRecognizetoRecover(R2R)Program
Effectiveimmediately,theMichiganStateYouthSoccerAssociationhaseliminatedheadingforplayersU11andyounger.
Thisdirectiveistoprotectplayers10yearsoldandyoungerregardlessofwhatagegrouptheyareplayingin.A
purposefulheaderbytheseplayersshallresultinanindirectfreekickawardedtotheopponentatthespotofthe
infraction.ThismandateisforallMSYSAaffiliatedactivities,includingbutnotlimitedto,MSYSAaffiliatedmember
organizationleagueplay,practicesandtournaments.MSYSA’scurrentConcussionProtocolremainsineffect.
Readhere.
Note:TheMichiganStateYouthSoccerAssociationwillpostandappropriatelydisseminateanyadditionalchangesto
rules,policies,guidelines,etc.whendeterminedandastimelyaspossible.
Asyoumayknow,aresolutionwasreachedinconcussionlitigation(filedinAugustof2014)againstUSSoccerFederation,
USYouthSoccer,AYSO,USClubSoccerandCaliforniaYouthSoccerAssociation.Inbrief,andaspartofthesettlement,US
Soccerandthememberdefendantsagreedtoworktowardsspecificinitiativeswithrespecttoconcussionsincluding
recommendationson:
• Modifyingsubstitutionrulestoallowplayerswhomayhavesufferedaconcussionduringgamestobeevaluated
withoutpenalty.
• Eliminatingheadingfor
o Allplayersage10yearsoldandyounger,regardlessofwhatagegroupprogramtheyareplayingin.
o AllplayersinU11programsandyounger.
o LimitingtheamountofheadinginpracticeforallplayersinU12andU13programs,nolimitonheadingin
games.
o USSocceralsorecommendsHealthCareProfessionals(HCP)beonsiteformajortournaments.ReadUS
Soccer’spressrelease.
Forreference,USSoccer’sRecognizetoRecover(R2R)programdescribesthespecificinitiativesandprovidesguidelines,
resourcesandinformationonavarietyofotherplayersafetyandhealthrelatedissues.ReadmoreaboutRecognizeto
Recover.
TheinitialareasoffocusforUSSoccer’sR2RPrograminclude:
• Improvingconcussionawarenessandeducationamongyouthcoaches,referees,parentsandplayers.
• Uniformconcussionmanagementandreturntoplayprotocolsforyouthplayers.
• Modifyingsubstitutionrulestoallowplayerswhomayhavesufferedaconcussionduringgamestobeevaluated
withoutpenalty.
• RecommendsthatplayersinU11programsandyoungernotengageinheading,eitherinpracticesorgames.
• RecommendsforplayersinU12andU13programs,thatheadingtrainingbelimitedtoamaximumof30minutes
perweekwithnomorethan15-20headersperplayer,perweek.
• Recommendsthatallcoachesbeinstructedtoteachandemphasizetheimportanceofpropertechniquesfor
headingtheball.
• RecommendsanadequatenumberofHealthCareProfessionals(HCP)bepresentatalltournamentswith64or
moreteamsatU11andolderagegroups.HealthCareProfessionalsareconsideredlicensedprofessionalssuchas
anAthleticTrainerCertified(ATC)orPhysician(MD/DO),withskillsinemergencycare,sportsmedicineinjuriesand
experiencerelatedtoconcussionevaluationandmanagement.
• RecommendswhereaHealthCareProfessional(HCP)ispresentatgames,anyplayerwhosustainsasignificant
blowtotheheadorbody,whocomplainsaboutorisexhibitingsymptomsconsistentwithhavingsuffereda
concussionorisotherwisesuspectedofhavingsustainedaconcussion,mustbeevaluatedonthesidelinebyaonsiteHCP.Thisprofessionalwillperformapplicabletesting-SCAT3orChildSCAT3andmodifiedBESStoevaluate
playersonthefield/sideline.Anyplayersuspectedofsufferingaconcussionwillnotbeallowedtoreturntoplay
untilhe/sheisclearedbytheHealthCareProfessional.Coaches,parents/guardiansorplayersmaynotoverrule
theHealthCareProfessional.Ifacoachseekstoallowaplayertore-enterthegamewhohadbeenremovedfrom
agameforaconcussionassessmentandwhohasnotbeenclearedtoreturntoplaybytheon-siteHCP,the
refereeshallissueawarningtothecoach.Ifacoachpersistsinseekingtoallowsuchplayertore-enterthegame
afterhavingbeenissuedawarning,therefereeisentitledtotakeotherdisciplinarymeasuresagainstthecoachas
arepermitted.
• RecommendswherenoHealthCareProfessional(HCP)ispresentatagameorpracticethatanyplayerwho
sustainsasignificantblowtotheheadorbody,whocomplainsaboutorisexhibitingsymptomsconsistentwith
havingsufferedaconcussionorisotherwisesuspectedofhavingsustainedaconcussion,mustbeevaluatedbyan
HCPbeforetheplayerwillbeallowedtoreturntopracticeorplay.Nocoachshallpermitaplayerwhohasbeen
removedfromagameforaconcussionassessmenttoreturntoplayuntilclearedtodosobyanHCP.Ifacoach
seekstoallowaplayerwhohadbeenremovedfromagameforaconcussionassessmenttore-enterthegame,the
refereeshallallowtheplayertoreturntothefieldbutshallimmediatelystopplay,directtheplayertoleavethe
fieldofplayanddirectthecoachtoremovetheplayerandselectasubstitute.Ifacoachseekstoallowaplayerto
re-enterwhohadbeenremovedfromagameforaconcussionassessment,therefereeshallissueawarningtothe
coach.Ifacoachpersistsinseekingtoallowsuchplayertore-enterthegameafterhavingbeenissuedawarning,
therefereeisentitledtotakesuchotherdisciplinarymeasuresasarepermitted.UnlessanHCPdeterminesthat
theplayerhasnotsufferedaconcussion,andclearstheplayertoreturntoplay,theplayerwillnotbepermittedto
returntopracticeorplayuntiltheplayerhassuccessfullycompletedthereturntoplayprotocolandhasbeen
clearedtoreturntoplaybyaPhysician.
ReadmoreonUSSoccerConcussionGuidelines
Shouldyouhavequestions,pleasedonothesitatetocontacttheMSYSAStateOffice.AdditionalinformationregardingR2R
willbediscussedandprovidedattheupcomingMSYSAAnnualGeneralMeetingonSaturday,March12,2016.
Sincerely,
ThomasK.Faro
ExecutiveDirector
MichiganStateYouthSoccerAssociation,Inc.
cc:
Mr.RobinCrawford,MSYSAPresident
Mr.PaulThomas,MSYSADirectorofCoaching
MSYSABoardofDirectors