Events outpacing plans for concussion monitoring
A bill sits on Gov. Pat Quinn’s desk in Illinois, awaiting his
signature, which will compel all schools offering interscholastic
sports to follow IHSA rules regarding concussion.
Presumably then, schools not in the ISHA, specifically middle
schools and junior highs, will be included. Furthermore, the IHSA
will be compelled to share all of its information regarding
concussion with elementary schools.
At this late date, I can’t imagine the law taking effect until
the 2012-13 school year.
In Indiana, a similar bill was signed by Gov. Mitch Daniels in
May, which WON’T take effect until next year. It differs from the
Illinois law by applying only to high schools but by also
encompassing intramural sports as well as interscholastic.
Another key difference exists between the states’ laws.
In Indiana, once an athlete is diagnosed with a concussion by a
physician or athletic trainer, a physician — and only a physician
– must provide a written release for the victim to return to
competition in the days to weeks after the concussion is
suffered.
In Illinois, that written release may also be provided by an
athletic trainer.
Bad idea.
I heard the same from pediatricians in Illinois when I gave a
presentation at the annual meeting of their state association last
month. Fortunately, no athletic trainer I know disagrees.
In short, no athlete who has suffered from a concussion should
be cleared without seeing a physician.
In fact, the bigger the team — athletic trainer, coach,
guidance counselor, parent, physician and school nurse — managing
the injured athlete’s return, the better.
The Indiana law is not without its flaws, too. Why it doesn’t
apply to all youth sports, I don’t know. The author of the bill,
state Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle, has never responded to my
repeated phone calls and emails.
Still, both laws are steps in the right direction. Well
intentioned, they establish a standard of care that schools and
youth leagues would be foolish to ignore — now.
The laws may take effect next year, but the concussion news
cycle is moving far faster than any lawmaker can anticipate.
Consequently, athletic administrators would be well-advised to stay
ahead of the legislative curve.
Two events last week explain why.
On Tuesday, 75 ex-NFL players filed suit against the league and
helmet-maker Riddell in a California court, alleging mismanagement
of their concussions and intentional concealment of the league’s
knowledge of concussion’s possible long-term consequences.
A day later, the Ivy League announced it would limit contact in
football practice to only two days a week, three fewer than allowed
by the NCAA.
The Ivy League, no Big 10 or SEC, is at the top of
nonscholarship leagues in college. So expect similar leagues, such
as Valparaiso University’s Pioneer League, to feel the pressure to
follow suit.
And if that happens, the IHSA and IHSAA shouldn’t be far
behind.
John Doherty is a certified athletic trainer and licensed
physical therapist. This column reflects solely his opinion. Reach
him at ptatcsport@sbcglobal.net.