A concussion is a brain injury that is characterized by an onset of impairment of cognitive and/or physical functioning caused by a blow to the head, face, or body, involving a sudden jarring of the head. A concussion can occur with or without a loss of consciousness, and proper management is essential to the immediate safety and long-term future of the injured student.
A student suspected of sustaining a concussion or brain injury will be automatically removed from cognitive, athletic, and other physical activities until evaluated and cleared to return by a licensed health care provider. No student who is suspected of having a concussion will return to play until all criteria to return to play have been met.
Students are prohibited from returning to play (sports, PE class, or recess) the day the head injury was sustained. If there is any doubt as to whether a student has sustained a concussion, it should be treated as a concussion. If a concussion is diagnosed, a student must be symptom free for 24 hours and have a signed return to play release by a treating clinician before they can return to play (sports, PE class, or recess). The District Medical Director will make the final decision on return to play. Return to play following a concussion involves a stepwise progression once the individual is symptom free. All students may return to play using the progression listed below.
Step #1: Return to academics in school
Step#2: Light aerobic activity, low impact activity (speed walking)
Step#3: Short specific activity (running drills, jump rope by self)
Step#4: Non-contact training drills (multi-players)
Step#5: Full contact training (full PE participation)
Step#6: Return to play and competition
If any post-concussion symptoms occur while in the stepwise program, then the student should drop back to the previous asymptomatic level and try to progress again after a further 24-hour period of rest has passed.
The post-concussion symptoms include, but are not limited to:
● Headaches
● Dizziness
● Confusion
● Memory problems
● Difficulty concentrating
● Sensitivity to light or noise
● Nausea
● Fatigue
● Balance issues
● Changes in mood or behavior
● Slow responses to questions
● Complaints of feeling "foggy" or not feeling right
Students may continue to have headaches while recuperating. If their headache increases, they are to rest for 15-20 minutes.
There are many risks to premature return to playing including: a greater risk for a second concussion because of a lower concussion threshold, second impact syndrome (abnormal brain flow that can result in death), exacerbation of any current symptoms, and possible increased risk for additional injury due to prolonged reactions, time and balance issues.
Per the Amsterdam consortium and under direction by the District Medical Director, within 24 hours of improvement, students may do light activity such as walking, treadmill, bike. As long as symptoms do not worsen by 2 points on a 1-10 point scale during the light activity, the student can return to play at level 3.
The District maintains a Concussion Management Team (CMT). The CMT consists of a School Nurse, Athletic Trainer, Athletic Director, the District Physician, a coach of an interscholastic team, a physical education teacher, and a school counselor. The CMT will act as a liaison for any student returning to school and/or play following a concussion. The CMT or subset of the team will review and/or design an appropriate plan for the student while the student is recovering.
Each school coach, physical education teacher, nurse, and certified athletic trainer who works with and/or provides instruction to students engaged in school-sponsored athletic activities, will complete, on a biennial basis, a course of instruction relating to recognizing the symptoms of concussion and monitoring and seeking proper medical treatment for students who suffer concussions.
The District will maintain a tracking system to document compliance with the annual training for staff and the District will make available to both the student and their parents/guardians concussion information on the District website under the School Nurse webpage.
When student athletes in grades 7-12 are registering for athletics, the parent or guardian must sign a statement acknowledging that they have reviewed the materials describing the short-term and long-term health effects of a concussion, criteria for removal from and return to athletic participation, and the risk of not reporting the injury and continuing to play, when registering for sports.
Adoption date: September 15, 2025