What is this information?
You are receiving this information sheet about concussions because SAFL Youth Football and Cheer has adopted
the concussion policy of the USA Football Heads Up initiative.
1. The policy requires a student athlete who may have a concussion during a practice or game to be removed from
the activity for the remainder of the day.
2. Any athlete removed for this reason must receive a written note from a medical doctor trained in the management
of concussion before returning to practice.
3. Before an athlete can start the season and begin practice in a sport, a concussion information sheet must be
signed and returned to the school by the athlete and the parent or guardian.
Every 2 years all coaches are required to receive training about concussions, as well as certification in First Aid training,
CPR, and AEDs (life-saving electrical devices that can be used during CPR).
What is a concussion and how would I recognize one?
A concussion is a kind of brain injury. It can be caused by a bump or hit to the head, or by a blow to another part of the
body with the force that shakes the head. Concussions can appear in any sport, and can look differently in each person.
Most concussions get better with rest and over 90% of athletes fully recover. However, all concussions should be
considered serious. If not recognized and managed the right way, they may result in problems including brain damage
and even death.
Most concussions occur without being knocked out. Signs and symptoms of concussion (see back of this page) may show
up right after the injury or can take hours to appear. If your child reports any symptoms of concussion or if you notice some
symptoms and signs seek medical evaluation from your team’s athletic trainer and a medical doctor trained in the evaluation
and management of concussion. If your child is vomiting, has a severe headache, or is having difficulty staying awake or
answering simple questions, call 911 to take him or her immediately to the emergency department of your local hospital.
On the USA Football website is a Graded Concussion Symptom Checklist. If your child fills this out after having had a
concussion, it helps the doctor, athletic trainer or coach understand how he or she is feeling and hopefully shows
improvement. We ask that you have your child fill out the checklist at the start of the season even before a concussion has
occurred so that we can understand if some symptoms such as headache might be a part of his or her everyday life. We
call this a “baseline” so that we know what symptoms are normal and common for your child. Keep a copy for your
records, and turn in the original. If a concussion occurs, he or she should fill out this checklist daily. This Graded Symptom
Checklist provides a list of symptoms to compare over time to make sure the athlete is recovering from the concussion.
What can happen if my child keeps playing with concussion symptoms or returns too soon after getting a
concussion?
Athletes with the signs and symptoms of concussion should be removed from play immediately. There is NO same day
return to play for a youth with a suspected concussion. Youth athletes may take more time to recover from concussion
and are more prone to long-term serious problems from a concussion.
Even though a traditional brain scan (e.g., MRI or CT) may be “normal”, the brain has still been injured. Animal and
human research studies show that a second blow before the brain has recovered can result in serious damage to the
brain. If your athlete suffers another concussion before completely recovering from the first one, this can lead to
prolonged recovery (weeks to months), or even to severe brain swelling (Second Impact Syndrome) with devastating
consequences.
There is an increasing concern that head impact exposure and recurrent concussions may contribute to long-term
neurological problems. One goal of this concussion program is to prevent a too early return to play so that serious brain
damage can be prevented.
Signs observed by Teammates, Parents, and Coaches Include:
- Looks Dissy
- Looks Spaced Out
- Forgets Plays
- Is unsure of game, score, or opponent
- Moves clumsily or awkwardly
- Answers questions slowly
- Slurred Speech
- Shows a change in personality or way of acting
- Seizures or has a fit
- Any change in typical behavior or personality
- Passes out
Symptoms may include one or more of the following:
- Headaches
- "Pressure in head"
- Nausea or throws up
- Neck pain
- Has trouble standing or walking
- Blurred, double, or fuzzy vision
- Bothered by light and noise
- Feeling sluggish or slowed down
- Drowsiness
- Change in sleep patterns
- Loss of memory
- "Don't feel right"
- Tired or low energy
- Sadness
- Nervousness or feeling on edge
- Irritability
- More emotional
- Confused
- Concentration or memory problems
- Repeating the same question / comment
Final Thoughts for Parents and Guardians:
It is well known that high school athletes will often not talk about signs of concussions, which is why this information sheet
is so important to review with them. Teach your child to tell the coaching staff if he or she experiences such symptoms, or
if he or she suspects that a teammate has had a concussion. You should also feel comfortable talking to the coaches or
athletic trainer about possible concussion signs and symptoms that you may be seeing in your child.
References:
American Medical Society for Sports Medicine position statement: concussion in sport (2013)
Consensus statement on concussion in sport: the 4th International Conference on Concussion in Sport held in Zurich, November 2012