MIDSOUTH ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS (MAIS) Concussion Form

A concussion is a brain injury and all brain injuries are serious. They are caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head, or by a blow to another part of the body with the force transmitted to the head. They can range from mild to severe and can disrupt the way the brain normally works. Even though most concussions are mild, all concussions are potentially serious and may result in complications including prolonged brain damage and death if not recognized and managed properly. In other words, even a “ding” or a bump on the head can be serious. You cannot see a concussion and most sports concussions occur without loss of consciousness.
Signs and symptoms of concussion may show up right after the injury or can take hours or days to fully appear. If your child reports any symptoms of concussion, or if you notice the symptoms or signs of concussion yourself, seek medical attention right away.

• Symptoms (Listed below)
• Signs Observed by Teammates, Parents & Coaches (Listed on back of this page)

What can happen if my child keeps on playing with a concussion or returns too soon?
Athletes with the signs and symptoms of concussion should be removed from play immediately. Continuing to play with the signs and symptoms of a concussion leaves the athlete especially vulnerable to greater injury. There is an increased risk of significant damage from a concussion for a period of time after that concussion occurs, particularly if the athlete suffers another concussion before completely recovering from the first one. This can lead to
prolonged recovery, or even to severe brain swelling (second impact syndrome) with devastating and even fatal consequences. It is well known that adolescent or teenage athletes will often fail to report symptoms of injuries. Concussions are no different. As a result, education of administrators, coaches, parents and students is key to a student-athlete’s safety.

Concussion Symptons

1 Headaches                                  12 Amnesia
2 "Pressure" in Head                       13 “Don’t feel right”
3 Nausea or vomiting                      14 Fatigue or low energy
4 Neck pain                                    15 Sadness
5 Balance problems or dizziness       16 Nervousness or anxiety
6 Blurred, double or fuzzy vision      17 Irritability
7 Sensitivity to light or noise           18 More emotional
8 Feeling sluggish/slowed down       19 Confusion
9 Feeling foggy or groggy                20 Concentration or memory problems
10 Drowsiness                                21 Forgetting game plays
11 Change in sleep patterns             22 Repeating the same question/comment

 

Signs Observed by Teammates, Parents & Coaches 

1 Appears dazed                              8 Slurred speech
2 Vacant facial expression                 9 Shows behavior or personality changes
3 Confused about assignment          10 Can’t recall events prior to hit
4 Forgets plays                               11 Can’t recall events after hit
5 Unsure of game situations            12 Seizures or convulsions
6 Moves clumsily uncoordinated       13 Change in typical behavior/personality
7 Answers questions slowly             14 Loses consciousness

MAIS Concussion Policy & Verification:
• An athlete who reports or displays any symptoms or signs of a concussion in a practice or game setting should be removed immediately from the practice or game. The athlete should not be allowed to return to the practice or game for the remainder of the day regardless of whether the athlete appears or states that he/she is normal.

• The athlete should be evaluated by a licensed, qualified medical professional working within their scope of practice as soon as can be practically arranged.

• If an athlete has sustained a concussion, the athlete should be referred to a licensed physician preferably one with experience in managing sports concussion injuries.

• The athlete who has been diagnosed with a concussion should be returned to play only after full recovery and clearance by a physician. Recovery from a concussion, regardless of loss on consciousness, usually takes 7-14 days after resolution of all symptoms.

• Return to play after a concussion should be gradual and follow a progressive return to competition. An athlete should not return to a competitive game before demonstrating that he/she has no symptoms in a fully supervised practice.

• Athletes should not continue to practice or return to play while still having symptoms of a concussion. Sustaining an impact to the head while recovering from a concussion may cause Second Impact Syndrome, a catastrophic neurological brain injury. 

Remember, it is better to miss one game than to miss the whole season!!!
I have reviewed this information on concussions and am aware that a release by a medical doctor is required before a student may return to play under this policy.

I have reviewed this information on concussions and am aware that a release by a medical doctor is required before a student may return to play under this policy.