NFHS policy changes
for 2010-11
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Most would agree that any
athlete who loses consciousness
while involved in a
sports-related activity has
likely suffered a concussion and
should be removed from play.
What is not well known is that
only 10% of those who suffer
concussions lose consciousness-
the tip of the iceberg. Some
guidelines in the not-to-distant
past have allowed the player to
return to the same game if loss
of consciousness (LOC) was
brief, but not anymore. The days
of an athlete “blacking out” on
the sideline or field and
resuming play after a few
minutes came to a close
beginning this fall, in the NFL
as well as in high schools
across the country.
New concussion rules from the
National Federation of High
School Associations (NFHS),
which provides guidance for high
school interscholastic
associations in all 50 states,
demonstrate a heightened
awareness of the subtle nature
of concussion symptoms, and a
move away from LOC as the
determining factor in their
diagnosis.
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Effective this fall, high school
athletes in any sport who are exhibiting
signs of concussion such as headaches,
dizziness, confusion, or balance
problems should be removed from play and
not allowed to return until cleared by
an appropriate health-care provider.
Washington State Vocational Sports Medicine Assoc.
Athletic Trainer of the Year, Scott
Peck, welcomes this change. “This will
provide school districts around the
country more guidance in developing
concussion policies and sideline
protocols while increasing awareness and
education, potentially saving
lives.” Similar to WA State’s Lystedt
Law, these changes will
improve player safety dramatically.
“Officials, coaches, and administrators
are being asked to make all efforts at
ensuring that concussed athletes do not
continue to participate. Thus, coaches,
players, and administrators should also
be looking for signs of concussion in
all athletes and should immediately
remove any suspected concussed athlete
from play,” said Dr. Michael Koester,
chair of the NFHS Sports Medicine
Advisory Committee. “Continuing
participation in any sport following a
concussion can lead to worsening
symptoms, as well as increased risk for
further injury to the brain and even
death.”
These concussion management changes will
be included in the NFHS 2010-11 rule
books. Points of emphasis will also
include illegal helmet contact.
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