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Player Welfare

Keeping Our Athletes Safe

We prioritize player safety with comprehensive guidelines on concussion recognition and management to ensure well-being on and off the field.

Policy

Official Concussion Policy

​If a player shows symptoms of concussion before, during or after a match, that player must be removed from play immediately, not to return during the match. No Exceptions.
The player needs to be evaluated by appropriate medical staff. Best practice would be evaluation by a medical physician who has training in concussion evaluation and management. A player must do this before returning to play rugby in any form.
If a concussion is diagnosed, that player must sit out of activity with full rest for the minimum guidelines listed below:

Youth and High School players – 2 weeks (14 full days) AND be symptom free before beginning the 5 day Graduated Return to Play Protocols.

Not returning to contact rugby before GRTP fully complete and symptom free.
Once a player is cleared by a physician, they should be closely monitored for any lingering symptoms by coaches, parents, teammates and medical staff and be removed from play immediately if symptoms occur.
Policy

Know the 5 R's of Concussions

Recognize
Learn the signs and symptoms of a concussion so you can understand when an athlete might have one.
Remove
If an athlete has a concussion or even a suspected concussion that they must be removed from play immediately.
Refer
Once removed from play, the player should be immediately referred to a qualified concussion specialist.
Recover
Before returning to play, athletes must fully recover, be symptom-free, and undergo specific treatments.
Return
For return to play, athletes must be symptom-free and have clearance from a qualified heathcare professional.
Testing

Testing Resources

Impact Testing
Created by leading clinical experts, ImPACT is the most recognized and scientifically validated computerized concussion assessment system. It equips clinicians with cutting-edge neurocognitive tools, aiding in safe return-to-play decisions.
Utilize ImPACT Testing
NFHS Resources
The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have teamed up to promote proper concussion recognition and management in high school sports.
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