Concussion Management Protocol

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Effective immediately, the Athletics Department at Geneva School of Boerne is adopting the following concussion management protocol. All Geneva faculty members and coaches will follow this protocol:

  1. RECOGNITION AND MANAGEMENT
    If an athlete exhibits any signs, symptoms or behaviors that cause suspicion that he may have a concussion, that athlete must be removed from all physical activity, including sports and recreation. While only a health-care professional is qualified to diagnose a concussion, parents and coaches must be aware of the signs, symptoms and behaviors of a possible concussion. If the athlete reports any of the following symptoms after a bump, blow or jolt to the head, the athlete may be suffering from a concussion:
    • Headache
    • Nausea
    • Balance problems or dizziness
    • Double or fuzzy vision
    • Sensitivity to light or noise
    • Feeling sluggish
    • Feeling groggy or foggy
    • Concentration or memory problems

    • Confusion

      Also, if any of the following signs are observed by parents, friends, teachers or coaches after a bump, blow or jolt to an athlete’s head, the athlete may have suffered a concussion:

    • Appears dazed or stunned
    • Is confused about what to do
    • Forgets plays
    • Is unsure of game, score or opponent
    • Moves clumsily
    • Answers questions slowly
    • Loses consciousness
    • Shows behavior or personality changes
    • Can’t recall events prior to bump, blow or jolt to the head

    • Can’t recall events after bump, blow or jolt to the head

      To review, when an athlete shows any signs or symptoms of a concussion:

      1. The athlete must be removed from the contest or practice and may not return to practice or to the contest from which he or she was removed.
      2. The athlete will not be left alone and will be monitored by a Geneva representative until released to the athlete’s parents or a medical professional.
      3. The athlete will be medically evaluated by a physician following the injury.
      4. The athlete shall not return to play in a practice, a scrimmage or an athletic contest until cleared to play by her evaluating physician. Athletes must be cleared to play in the specific sport to which they seek to return.
      5. Once a player is cleared to return to play, coaches must follow the Return to Play Criteria set forth below.
  2. RETURN TO PLAY CRITERIA
    Once an athlete is asymptomatic for 24 hours AND is cleared to return to activity by a health care professional, he will proceed in the following stepwise fashion to allow the brain to re-adjust to exercise.
    1. Light aerobic exercise, 5-10 minutes such as walking or stationary biking; NO weightlifting, resistance training or any other exercises
    2. Moderate aerobic exercise, 15-20 minutes of running at moderate intensity in the gym or on field without helmet or other equipment
    3. Non-contact training drills in full uniform. May begin weightlifting, resistance training and other exercises
    4. Full contact practice or training

    5. Full game play

      The athlete will progress one step each day and will progress to the next step only if there are no post-concussion symptoms such as those listed above. If symptoms of a concussion reoccur, or if concussion signs and/or behaviors are observed at any time during the return to activity program, the athlete must discontinue all activity and be re-evaluated by a health-care professional.

      For additional information about concussions and the new standard of care, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/heads-up/training/youth-sports.html