Todd Nelson
Assistant Director, NYSPHSAA
NYSPHSAA Concussion Initiative
Lloyd Mott, Asst Director
Safety Committee Chair
Dennis Fries
Concussion Management
Coordinator
Senator Kemp Hannon
NYS Senate Health Committee
NYSPHSAA Concussion Team
 NYSPHSAA Safety Committee Chair
 NYSAAA Representative
 Physicians
 Psychologists & Neuropsychologists
 Athletic Trainers
 Athletic Directors
 Parent
 Section CMT formed
Principles of
Concussion Management
 Avoid re-injury until recovered
 Avoid over-exertion during recovery
 Early education and reassurance improves outcome
 Return to school gradually with accommodations as
needed
 Return to play must follow a medically supervised
process
Zurich 2008 Guidelines
 No grading of injury
 Treat every concussion
seriously
 Recovery may take
longer in children and
adolescents
3rd International Conference on Concussion in Sport
FIFA
IOC
IIHF
Zurich Return to Play Guidelines
Any athlete who show ANY symptoms or signs of a
concussion:

Athlete should not return-to-play in the
current game or practice

Athlete should be monitored for
deterioration for 24 hours

return-to-play must follow a medically
supervised stepwise process

athlete must be symptom-free at rest and
after exertion
Medical Protocol

Any athlete who suffers a concussion should
undergo medical evaluation within 24 hours

Anyone with LOC should be evaluated that day

If confused or not fully conscious, transport by
EMS with immobilization

Follow athlete until asymptomatic

First medical clearance is to begin RTP
progression

If no return of symptoms with exertion, then
final clearance for game play
Zurich Return to Play Progression
1. No activity, complete rest
2. Light aerobic exercise but no resistance
training
3. Sport specific exercise and progressive
addition of resistance training
4. Non-contact training drills
5. Full contact training and scrimmage after
medical clearance
6. Game play
Also should be symptom-free after mental exertion
and have normal neruocognitive test results
NYSPHSAA Concussion Initiative
 $145K in 3 phases over 3 years
 Presentations at athletic director meetings in all 11
sections
 Webcast, DVD, and website
 CME credit for school physicians
 List of identified resources state-wide
 Partnership with ImPACT – 220 member schools
 Dick’s Sporting Goods – FREE base line testing
 Concussion team in every section & every school
 Sideline cards – distributed to all schools
NYSPHSAA Resources
 NYSPHSAA Sample Concussion Policy
 Modeled on policies, procedures, and protocols already
in use in some schools
 Approved by NYSPHSAA Executive, available on website
 Concussion Checklist
 Completed by coach or trainer on the sideline
 Follows athlete until cleared to RTP
 Reviewed by school ATC and MD after clearance
 Improves communication and helps enforce policy
Other Resources
 Free Educational Materials
 CDC Heads up in High School Sports kits
 NFHS – Concussion Management Course
 CDC web based training video for coaches
 SED Required First Aid for Coaches outline
 NCAA web-based education video
 SUNY Upstate Concussion in the Classroom video
and brochure on-line
Lessons Learned
 Coaches and athletic directors will attend . . . if




required
Athletic trainers and school nurses are good
advocates
Parents rely on advice of physicians
Primary complaint from trainers and nurses is
lack of knowledge among physicians
Little awareness of academic consequences
National Federation of High Schools
Concussion Guidelines 2010 - 2011
 Any athlete who exhibits signs, symptoms,
or behaviors consistent with a concussion
(such as loss of consciousness, headache,
dizziness, confusion, or balance problems)
shall be immediately removed from the
contest and shall not return to play until
cleared by an appropriate health care
professional
Concussion Management
Awareness Act – July 1, 2012
 NYSPHSAA met with
many legislators on
potential Bills.
 Fully supports the Bill
passed by both the
Senate and Assembly
 NYSPHSAA named as a
stakeholder in the Law
Steps to Success
 Form a school Concussion Team to oversee
education and protocols
 Educate athletes, parents, coaches, teachers,
administrators and school health professionals
including the medical officer
 Develop and implement a concussion
management policy and protocol (use of
concussion checklist recommended)
 Consider other steps such as hiring an athletic
trainer or using a computerized testing program
Summary
 NFHS, CDC, NYSPHSAA and NYS legislature now
recognize sports concussion as a significant
health concern
 Proper recognition and management of
concussion can prevent serious problems
 Athletes must avoid re-injury and over-exertion
until recovered
 Every school should have a concussion
management policy and a concussion
management team
It’s the right thing to do !
Contact information
Todd Nelson, Assistant Director
Email: tnelson@nysphsaa.org
Phone: (518) 690 - 0771