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PROTOCOLS
In order to address risks associated with concussions and other head injuries resulting from athletic injuries, the school district adopts the following protocols:
Definitions:
“Athletic coach or trainer” means any paid or volunteer individual whose responsibilities include coaching, athletic training, or advising a school athletic team or club.
“Health care provider” means any person who is licensed and qualified under Wyoming law to provide health care services and is also permitted to perform a pre-participation athletic physical examination.
“School athletic event” means a game, competition, or practice associated with an athletic activity sanctioned by the Wyoming High School Activities Association or a game, competition, or practice associated with school-sponsored athletic activities in a middle or junior high school which directly corresponds to those high school activities sanctioned by the Wyoming High School Activities Association.
“Student athlete” means a middle school, junior high school, or senior high school student who engages in or seeks to engage in a school athletic event.
“Symptoms” means any change in the athlete’s behavior, thinking, or physical functioning, as self-reported by the athlete.
“Signs” means any change in the athlete’s behavior, thinking, or physical functioning, as observed by a coach or trainer, or school official, or another student athlete.
“Head injury” means a mild, moderate, or severe traumatic brain injury and is not intended to include superficial injuries to the head or face that do not involve trauma or potential trauma to the brain.
“Youth Athletic Activity” means any athletic activity related to competition, practice, or training exercises among middle school, junior high school or senior high school student athletes.
1. Training of Coaches and Athletic Trainers to Facilitate the Recognition of Signs of Concussions.
A. Every coach and athletic trainer shall annually complete a concussion recognition education course. The course shall be completed prior to the start of the first athletic season in which the coach or athletic trainer provides assistance for youth athletic activities during the school year.
B. The concussion recognition education course shall, at a minimum, include:
i) Information on how to recognize the physical and cognitive signs and symptoms of a concussion;
ii) The necessity of obtaining proper medical attention for a person who is suspected of having a concussion;
iii) Information regarding the nature and risk of concussions, including the danger of continuing to play after sustaining a concussion; and
iv) The proper method of allowing a student athlete who has sustained a concussion to safely return to athletic activity. This may include training regarding a progressive physical activity program.
2. Restrictions Concerning Participation in School Athletic Events After Suffering a Head Injury (Concussion)
A. A coach or athletic trainer shall immediately remove the student athlete from the school athletic event and shall not allow the athlete to continue participation in a school athletic event on the same day that the student athlete meets one or both of the following criteria:
i) Exhibits physical or cognitive signs or symptoms consistent with a concussion or other head injury after a coach, athletic trainer, school official, or student athlete reports, observes, or suspects that the student athlete exhibiting these signs or symptoms has sustained a concussion or other head injury, and the signs and symptoms cannot be readily explained by a condition other than concussion; or
ii) Has been suspected by an athletic coach, trainer or health care provider of having a concussion or other head injury.
B. If a student athlete is removed from a school athletic event pursuant to Section 2(A), the coach or athletic trainer shall make reasonable efforts to notify the athlete’s parent or legal guardian that the student is suspected of having sustained a concussion or other head injury.
C. If a student athlete is removed from a school athletic event pursuant to Section 2(A), the coach or athletic trainer shall not permit the student athlete to return to the athletic event or to participate in any youth athletic activity involving physical exertion until the student athlete has been evaluated by a health care provider and receives written clearance from the health care provider to return to participation in the youth athletic activity.
D. Any student athlete who loses consciousness during an event, whether related to a head injury or not, shall not be allowed to participate for the remainder of that day and, in order to return to practice or play in the future, the student must have medical clearance by a practitioner licensed by the State Board of Medicine. WHSAA Rule 2.4.5.
3. Information to Students and Parents Regarding Head Injuries and Related Restrictions on Participation in Athletic Activities
A. At the beginning of each academic year, each public middle, junior high and high school within the district shall provide to a student athlete and the student athlete’s parent or guardian, a form with information pertaining to concussion and other head injury. The school district shall receive signatures on the form from the student athlete and the student athlete’s parent or guardian before permitting the student to begin participating in youth athletic activities for that academic year. This form may be combined with other consent to participate forms utilized by the school or in connection with registration forms, at the discretion of the school/athletic administrator.
Adopted: September 15, 2011
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