Concussion guidelines approved
The Calhoun County ISD board Monday approved guidelines for
concussion management during its regular board meeting.
The guidelines are required as part of Natasha’s Law, passed during
the recent session of the Texas Legislature. It requires a
Concussion Oversight Committee and return-to-play rules.
Natasha Helmick was a soccer player and due to the number of
concussions she received during play was unable to fulfill her
dream of competing at the Olympic level. She advocated for the
passage of the bill.
Appointed to the oversight committee were Dr. John Wright, team
physician; Dr. Jeannine Griffin, team physician; Richard Whitaker,
head football coach and boys coordinator; Virginia Parsons, head
volleyball coach and girls coordinator; and Frank Parker, ATC, LAT,
athletic trainer.
“Calhoun Sports Medicine staff policy on concussion has not changed
other than more documentation by law,” said Parker. “The previous
policy was to hold out athletes that have suffered a traumatic
brain injury, TBI, and not release them until seen by their
physician. They were not allowed to participate for five days after
last headache.
“So if they got a TBI on Friday and had headaches until the next
Wednesday, they could not participate until the following Monday
with no contact and further evaluation after exercise,” he
said.
The new policy will not allow an athlete to return to play until
“the student has been evaluated and cleared to play through a
school-issued written statement by the family’s physician. The
student’s parent or guardian and student would have to return the
physician’s statement and complete a consent form indicating that
they had been informed and consented to the policies established
under the return-to-play protocol,” the policy states.
“Here at Calhoun all medical decisions are done by the sports
medicine staff and the coaches respect the decision that is made.
They may not like it, but they understand that it is for the health
of the athlete,” he said.
The policy also lays out prevention policies that include headgear
that must be NOCSAE certified; that it fits the individual; that a
coach or appropriate designate should check the headgear to make
sure air bladders work and are appropriately filled; make sure
helmets are properly secured; and mouth guards fit and be
used.
“There is only three helmet makers that I know of so we are using
the same brand of helmets that the NFL uses,” said Parker. “Our
helmets are recondition and inspected every year. If we have one
fail inspection, it will be replaced, at about $200. The coaches
and athletic trainers inspect helmets every day at practice to make
sure that they are fitted correctly.”
In addition, the policy sets out evaluation methods for concussions
that include a 15 to 20 minute observation period of an athlete
that may have a concussion and management of concussions that
includes a seven-day wait period before returning to practice or
competition after a concussion.
Return to play guidelines state there can be no signs of
post-concussion symptoms before an athlete is allowed to return.
The activity progression is outlined as well starting with light
aerobic exercise with no resistance training, then moderate aerobic
activity with resistance training, followed by sport specific
activity and non-contact training followed by full contact training
drills after a minimum of seven days and return to full
participation pending physical clearance.
While all concussions cannot be prevented, Parker said “The coaches
instruct in proper tackling techniques where the athlete does not
lead with their head and to avoid head-to-head contact.
The law won’t change how football is played but “more athletes
might try to hide the symptoms of a TBI,” he said.