CONCUSSION PROCEDURES AND PROTOCOL
We take injuries very seriously. Usually when a player goes down on the field, it is up to the judgement of the referee and no one else as to when and how to deal with a player who goes down. A lot of it has to do with the severity of the injury and the circumstances of play (for example, if the player who goes down is not immediately deemed seriously injured, they are not in harm of being further injured from play, or if the team with the ball has an advantage, the referee may wait to call the play dead and check on the player).
However....blows to the head are another matter. Concussions are a serious matter in any sport and at any level.
Our region, in conjunction with State law and AYSO policy, has clear guidelines in dealing with and preventing concussions:
1) No player under the age of 12 (AYSO U8, U0, and U12 divisions) does not all ANY deliberate heading in practices or games. Any player who deliberately heads the ball in a game will warrant a n Indirect Free Kick for the other team.
2) U14 limits heading to 15-20 minutes in practice, but no restrictions in games.
3) Any player who is directly hit in the head by the ball from a kick by any player (depending on how close they were) warrants an immediate stoppage of play by the referee for evaluation.
4) The referee (or the referee in conjunction with the coach and/or safety director;) has sole digression during a game as to whether or not a player who has received an injury to the head may continue playing or not. During practice, this is the coaches responsibility. Any player removed from the game or practice due to a suspected concussion AND may NOT resume games or practices until they have been cleared by a medical professional (an MD who specializes in concussion diagnosis and recovery) AND a letter clearing the player to resume practices has been submitted to the coach AND the region (per state law).
5) At the time of registration, parents are required to read and eSign the CDC Concussion information page.
Parent, players, coaches and referees are encouraged to watch the following video from US Soccer entitled Recognize and Recover (Click HERE to watch the video).
If you have questions, please ask a board member.
