Amesbury Youth Lacrosse | Brain Injury Program

Brain Injury Program

Brain Injury Risk Management Program

Educational Awareness through Online Training and Information Handouts and

Administration / Document Retention

Our MYL member program has adopted and should implement the following Brain Injury risk management program:

Coaches - Basic Concussion Training Course (Free)

All coaches should complete the National Alliance for Youth Sports Concussion Training Video upon initial assignment and again every two years with certificate of completion documentation retained at team / organization / league level for a period of at least 15 years:

NAYS Concussion Training Video

Staff / Participant / Parent Concussion Awareness Information Sheet

The following CDC Parent / Athlete Concussion Information Sheet should be distributed annually to all staff, participants, and parents with the signed and dated sheet retained at the organization level for a period of at least 15 years:

CDC Concussion Information Sheet

Baseline Neurocognitive Testing

It is strongly recommended that each athlete take a baseline neurocognitive test prior to the start of conditioning / training camp. In the event of a concussion, this baseline test will assist the health care professionals in making return-to-play decisions.

Identify Suspected Cases of Concussions

The highest medical authority at a practice or game is the person who is in the best position to diagnose a suspected concussion and to make the call. The presence of (or immediate access to) a medical doctor (MD), doctor of osteopathy (DO), or athletic trainer trained in concussion recognition is ideal. However, in cases where medical professionals are not present or immediately available, a person should be present who is at least EMT certified or is currently certified in Red Cross Community First Aid or the equivalent.

Signs observed by parents, guardians, or sports staff:

appears dazed or stunned
is confused about the assignment or position
forgets instructions
is unsure of game, score, or opponent
moves clumsily
answers questions slowly
loses consciousness (even briefly)
shows behavior or personality changes
can’t recall events prior to hit or fall
can’t recall events after hit or fall.

Symptoms reported by player:

headache or pressure in the head
nausea or vomiting
balance problems or dizziness
double or blurry vision
sensitivity to light
sensitivity to noise
feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy
concentration or memory problems
confusion
does not “feel right”

What to do

If athletes report or exhibit one or more of the signs listed above or say they “just don’t feel right” after a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body, they may have a concussion.

Danger signs (which require immediate medical attention):

one pupil larger than the other
drowsiness or inability to wake up
headache that gets worse and does not go away
weakness, numbness, or decreased coordination
repeated vomiting or nausea
slurred speech
convulsions or seizures
inability to recognize people or places
increasing confusion, restlessness, or agitation
unusual behavior, loss of consciousness (even brief).

If one or more of these danger signs occur after a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body: call 9-1-1 or transport the athlete immediately to the emergency room.

On-field Medical Status Evaluation

Example questions and assessment tools*

Orientation Questions: (ask the athlete)

What period/quarter/half are we in?
What stadium/field is this?
What city is this?
Who is the opposing team?
Who scored last?
Do you remember the hit?
What team did we play last?
Repeat the following: girls, dog, green

Concentration: (ask the athlete)

Repeat the days of the week backwards (starting with today)
Repeat the months of the year backward (starting with December)
Repeat these numbers backward 63, (36), 419 (914), 6294 (4926)

Exertional Maneuvers:

Complete 5 jumping jacks
Complete 5 sit-ups

Word List Memory: (ask the athlete)

Repeat the three words from earlier: girls, dog, green

*Other superior assessment tools (some of which require professional administration) are available and should be researched including:

SCAT5
Child SCAT5
ImPACT
King-Devick test
HitCheck: Sideline Concussion Test

If a Concussion is Suspected, the Following Actions Should Be Taken

Remove the athlete from play. If any of the signs and symptoms are observed, remove the athlete from play. When in doubt, sit them out!
Make sure the athlete is evaluated by a licensed physician, licensed neuropsychologist, certified athletic trainer, or other licensed health care professional as determined by the department of public health. Let the professionals judge the severity.
Inform the athlete’s parents / guardians and provide them with the CDC fact sheet on “Concussions for parents” to help them monitor the athlete for signs and symptoms: CDC Concussion Information Sheet
Keep the athlete out of play the day of the injury AND until a licensed physician, licensed neuropsychologist, certified athletic trainer, or other licensed health care professional as determined by the department of public health provides written return to play permission to an authorized club representative.

No Encouragement of Dangerous Play

Coaches, trainers, and volunteers should not encourage any dangerous play that violates the age appropriate “No Contact” or “Limited Contact” rules of MBYLL / USL / NFHS.

Proper Fitting and Care of Helmets

All equipment managers and coaches should be trained on the proper fitting and care of helmets. Resources on this topic can be found here: Moms Team Proper Helmet Fit Checklist

Compliance with State Concussion Laws and NFHS Recommendations

To the extent that our state’s concussion laws exceed the requirements outlined above, we should comply with our state’s law. A summary of state concussion laws (click the map for Massachusetts) can be found here:

State Concussion Laws

To the extent that our state’s version of National Federation of High School Associations (NFHS) rules, regulations, or recommendations on brain injury exceed the requirements outlined above, we should comply with such standards.

Distribution / Acknowledgement / Documentation

An electronic copy of this risk management program should be distributed to each administrator and staff member prior to the start of every season. Each should acknowledge in writing (wet or electronic signature) that they have received and carefully reviewed the entire program. The sports organization should maintain documentation on an annual basis of the risk management plan that was distributed as well as the administrator and staff acknowledgements.

DISCLAIMER

THIS SAMPLE BRAIN INJURY RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR YOUTH LACROSSE IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL AWARENESS AND EDUCATION AND IS NOT AN ALL-ENCOMPASSING PROGRAM. EACH LOCAL ASSOCIATION SHOULD CONSULT OTHER SOURCES AND EXPERTS IN ORDER TO CUSTOMIZE THEIR OWN PROGRAMS. NO LEGAL ADVICE IS BEING PROVIDED. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO REDUCE THE RISK OF LIABILITY. THIS PROGRAM IS NOT A SAFETY PROGRAM AND DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE SAFETY OF SPECTATORS, PARTICIPANTS, OR THIRD PARTIES. SADLER & COMPANY, INC. AND MBYLL, INC. DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY RESULTING FROM THE DISSEMINATION OF THIS PROGRAM. IN EXCHANGE FOR RECEIPT OF THIS INFORMATION, SPORTS ORGANIZATION AND THEIR ADMINISTRATORS AND STAFF AGREE TO HOLD HARMLESS AND INDEMNIFY SADLER & COMPANY, INC. AND MBYLL INC. AND RESPECTIVE DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES FOR ANY CLAIMS, OF BODILY INJURY, PROPERTY DAMAGE, OR OTHER DAMAGES (INCLUDING REASONABLE ATTORNEY’S FEES) TO THEMSELVES OR THIRD PARTIES.

Revised by MYL: January 2019