PARENT INFORMATION

Injury Reporting

Injuries should be reported to the Athletic Trainers as soon as possible so we can:

• help facilitate timely evaluations consistent with your child's athletic healthcare plan

• secure referrals to the areas top specialists

• provide medical documentation for school medical records, insurance needs, and attendance

• develop an athletic healthcare plan to help your athlete return as soon as safely possible.

✅ Any injury evaluated by a healthcare professional MUST have a written medical clearance to return to sports participation. 
➤➤➤This includes any visit to the Emergency Room, Med Express, Children's Express Care, Urgent Cares, PCP, Pediatrician, etc.  

✅ For injuries that occur outside of school sports, it is recommended you obtain a medical clearance.  If the injury sidelines your athlete during the season, they are required to submit a medical clearance to return to sports participation.  Nurse Popovich will need documentation for your child's school health records as well.

Please email the athletic trainers the documentation so we can update your athlete's school medical records, even if it is after the season ends, as this will help come the next season/athletic year.

Medical Clearances

Orthopedic and/or Sports Medicine (injury visit) documentation should include the following information:

• Name and date athlete was seen

• Diagnosis and any Diagnostic testing results 

  • • x-ray results, neurocognitive assessment results (ImPACT test, DynaVision testing, C3Logix System), etc

• Therapy orders for rehabilitation

  • • Modalities (e-stim, ultrasound) , 5 step Progression for concussions, Academic Accommodations, acute taping/bracing, etc

We do not need clearances/documentation for routine medical visits, well check visits, dentist or brace check visits, etc.  The attendance/athletic office may need verification for your absence to be excused for sports participation.

All medical documentation should be emailed to the Athletic Trainers and Nurse Popovich before your athlete can return to participation

Concussion Info

Concussions can occur in any sport, at any level, at any time 

Athletic Trainers are present at events to:

• Make an immediate assessment of the injury (first responder role if necessary)

  • • Not every hit to the head reaches the threshold of a concussion

    • Athletes will be referred to a concussion specialist for ANY loss of consciousness and/or if exhibiting signs or symptoms consistent with a concussion diagnosis.  More information on what concussion are, can be accessed at Concussion 101

• Provide necessary referrals whether immediate or secondary

  • • If loss of consciousness occurs during an event, the athlete will be transported to the nearest Emergency Department immediately.  If a parent is present, the Athletic Trainer and/or EMS may release the athlete to the parent to take to the Emergency Department if in stable condition.  If no parent is present or athlete is not deemed in stable condition, the athlete will be transported via EMS to the nearest Emergency Department for further evaluation.

• Provide follow-up treatment that is recommended by the medical provider trained in concussion management

  • • Athletes are encouraged to follow an exertional return to sports protocol over a minimum of 5 consecutive days.

    • Provide baseline and post concussion assessment(s) with appropriate referral to a concussion specialist

Athletic Insurance

Penn-Trafford offers an athletic secondary co-insurance from AG ADMINISTRATORS for any athlete that may suffer an injury during practice/competition.   This coverage is to help off-set any out of pocket medical expenses a family may incur due to an injury while participating in a Penn-Trafford sport.

Parent(s) must request a claim form via email: 
Carol Smolka, Penn-Trafford School District Business Office.   

Waiting to activate the insurance will delay payments and receiving personal reimbursement is much harder than if they actually pay the bill directly from the medical facility/provider.

Athletic Training Facility

The Athletic Training Facility is fully equipped to meet your athletic healthcare needs 

We are located in the high school behind the gymnasium in the technology hall, Room 161. 
In the fall, athletes may also see one of the ATs at the Warrior Center Athletic Training room before practices or games. 
Athletic Trainers are typically available after school until the end of all scheduled practices and/or competitions.   

Athletic Training Services provided include:

• Rehabilitation of acute orthopedic injuries consistent with your athletic healthcare needs

  • • Modalities such as electrical stimulation, ultrasound, athletic therapy, Graston, KT taping, and more

    • Post-operative rehab and chronic conditions should be treated at Independence Health Systems Outpatient Rehab (Physical Therapy) or a facility of your choice.  Click here for more information

• Acute taping and/or bracing of chronic injuries

"5 P's to success-Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance"© Larry Cooper, ATC

PIAA Comprehensive Initial Pre-Participation Physical Exam (CIPPE athletic form)

✅ All student athletes are required to register for sports with Arbiter Sports and complete the registration online.  

✅ FOR STUDENT PLANNING TO SEE THEIR PERSONAL PHYSICIAN (PCP/Pediatrician), YOU WILL NEED TO PRINT A PIAA CIPPE FORM 
                           ➮➮➮Physicals must be completed on or after June 1st (Well-Check Exams are not acceptable)   

• • If your student is unable to see their Personal Physician, a CIPPE athletic physical can be obtained by an Excela Health Primary Care or Weekend Office (call 1-800-332-4825 or 724-765-1236 to make an appointment) or at MedExpress, Urgent Care, etc.

• Please ensure that Mrs. Lisa Popovich, the High School Nurse, receives a copy of your completed PIAA COMPREHENSIVE INITIAL PRE-PARTICIPATION PHYSICAL EVALUATION (CIPPE). This can be done by emailing a scanned or clear photo of the completed form to popovichl@penntrafford.org, or faxing to 724-259-6476.  

  • Registrations and CIPPE forms submitted late will not be guaranteed the opportunity to participate on the first day of practice/tryouts. ALL registrations and/or CIPPE forms will NOT be cleared the same day they are submitted to the High School Nurse.

  • Please allow up to 3 days for all registrations and CIPPE forms to be cleared after they are submitted to the High School Nurse; FINAL CLEARANCE FOR ATHLETIC PARTICIPATION FOR TRYOUTS WILL BE GIVEN BY HS MEDICAL STAFF. 

  • You can always check the status of your child's Athletic Participation Clearance Status by logging into your Arbiter Sports Account and selecting "VIEW OR EDIT MY REGISTRATIONS" select the "SUMMARY" tab at the end of the current registration.  You will see a blue section that says "MEMO FROM PENN-TRAFFORD ATHLETICS".  The information in that section will tell you the status of their clearance for athletic participation. 

  • Summer physical submissions will be cleared on a weekly basis beginning in July, so please continue to check your status in YOUR Arbiter Sports account

• PLEASE do not create multiple registrations for your athlete.  If you need to sign-up for more than one sport (or the district physicals or ImPACT®) or want to switch to a different sport please go back into the original registration and just add the desired sport by checking the box beside your selection.  If you need to make changes to the original registration because there needs to be a correction, go back into the original registration and make that change.

Athletic Physical Exams at PT

Penn-Trafford offers Athletic Physical Exams three times a year:  

• June (Fall sports)--Cheerleading, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Ice Hockey, Soccer, Tennis (Girls), Volleyball (Girls), 7/8 Basketball (Girls), 7/8 Swimming

• November (Winter sports)-- Basketball, Cheerleading, Swimming and Diving, Wrestling, 7/8 Volleyball (Girls)

• February (Spring sports)--Baseball, Cheerleading (try-outs), Lacrosse, Softball, Tennis (Boys), Track & Field, Volleyball (Boys)

Registration will be open in Arbiter Sports  approximately 1 month prior to the season and parents may complete the information to register for the Penn-Trafford physical exam and desired sport(s).  Information on the date, times, and cost of the physicals will be posted at www.ptwarriors.org

All athletic exams must be dated after June 1st to be eligible for the upcoming athletic year

Pre-Participation Physical Exam Resources from the NATA

Rehabilitation Services

Rehabilitation Process

Athletes may do therapy and rehabilitation with the athletic trainers for acute injuries sustained during sports participation. 

• Athletes should secure a written therapy script or protocol for any acute injury rehabilitation from their physician during the office visit if they want the ATs to work with them

• Acute rehabilitation is done after school in the Athletic Training room before practice (Or at the Warrior Center before competition for Fall sports only)

• Post Surgical rehabilitation can NOT be augmented in the athletic training room at this time.  Formal Physical Therapy can be utilized at Independence Health System affiliates

Independence Health System Outpatient Rehabilitation Services

At Independence Health System Outpatient Rehabilitation, our therapists work with individuals so they can recover from injury, illness or surgery, or lessen the effects of other conditions such as Vestibular Therapy for Concussion symptoms.

• To Schedule an appointment or for more information please click here.

  • Convenient locations include Excela Square Norwin, Delmont, Medical Commons II-Greensburg, & Pellis Road-Greensburg