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NJSIAA Concussion Guidelines Among Strictest in Country
By Lindsey Barton Straus
Created 08/18/2010 - 20:10

  • cheerleading
  • Health & Safety
  • Laws and Rules
  • New Jersey
  • NJSIAA
  • return-to-play guidelines
  • six-step return to play
  • Sports-Related Concussions & Subconcussive Injuries
Rider: 
Requires 12-day minimum waiting period before return to play after concussion

The concussion identification, management and return-to-play policy statement of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) is among the strictest in the country, requiring a 12-day minimum return-to-play waiting period for any athlete suspected of having suffered a concussion.

The NJSIAA, which is the governing body for high school athletics in New Jersey, recommends that its member schools require:

  • Mandatory concussion education forms. Before the start of each school year, student-athletes (including cheerleaders) and their parents, will be given a concussion information sheet and required to sign a copy of the form along with all pre-participation physical examination forms [1], acknowledging receipt.
  • Annual training: Athletes, coaches and athletic trainers must undergo annual training about concussions, including awareness of symptoms [2], and show proof of satisfactory completion of that training. [The NJSIAA acknowledged the key role ATCs play [3] in any concussion education and management program]
  • Removal from play/medical evaluation
    • Immediate removal from play of athletes (a) suspected of having suffered a concussion; (b) who have sustained a concussion and/or (c) lost conciousness during an athletic event;
    • Medical evaluation (including use of symptom checklists [4], baseline [5] and balance [6] testing) to determine the presence/absence of concussion; and
  • Return to play guidelines. For those athletes diagnosed with a concussion, no return to play until:
    • The athlete completes a symptom-free week, followed by
    • Completion of a six-step graduated return-to-play exercise protocol [7]  over a minimum of five days, during which time the athlete must be monitored for any recurrence of concussion symptoms [2], for a total minimum time before return to play of twelve days. 
      • If the student-athlete experiences a re-emergence of any post-concussion signs or symptoms once they return to play, they must stop playing and return to their primary care physician or team doctor for re-evaluation;
      • If concussion symptoms reoccur during the graduated return-to-play exercise protocol [7], the athlete must return to the previous level of activity that caused no symptoms and then advance to the next step as tolerated.

Source: http://www.njsiaa.org/NJSIAA/10ConcussionManagement.pdf [8] (accessed 8/18/10 @ 4:58 p.m.)

Created August 18, 2010
Teaser title: 
NJSIAA Concussion Guidelines Among Strictest in Country
Teaser text: 
The concussion identification, management and return-to-play policy statement of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) is among the strictest in the country, requiring a 12-day minimum return-to-play waiting period for any athlete suspected of having suffered a concussion.
Related articles: 
Gradual Return to Play After Concussions Recommended [9]
Concussion Signs and Symptoms [10]
Athletic Trainer Plays Critical and Unique Role In Concussion Safety [11]
Concussion Experts Praise, Criticize NJSIAA Guidelines [12]
Youth Sports Concussion Safety Laws: New Jersey [13]
Kids in Sports
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Source URL: https://momsteam.com/new-jersey/njsiaa-concussion-guidelines-among-strictest-in-country

Links:
[1] https://momsteam.com/node/881
[2] https://momsteam.com/node/149
[3] https://momsteam.com/node/114
[4] https://momsteam.com/node/1335
[5] https://momsteam.com/node/801
[6] https://momsteam.com/node/221
[7] https://momsteam.com/node/128
[8] http://www.njsiaa.org/NJSIAA/10ConcussionManagement.pdf
[9] https://momsteam.com/health-safety/return-to-play/concussion-return-to-play-step-by-step-approach-recommended
[10] https://momsteam.com/health-safety/concussion-signs-and-symptoms-physical-cognitive-emotional-sleep-related
[11] https://momsteam.com/health-safety/athletic-trainer-plays-key-role-in-concussion-recognition-evaluation-on-sports-sideline
[12] https://momsteam.com/health-safety/concussion-experts-praise-criticize-njsiaa-guidelines
[13] https://momsteam.com/health-safety/youth-sport-concussion-safety-law-new-jersey