Concussion Policy

A concussion is a difficult to diagnose form of traumatic brain injury.  Scots Baseball Club, Inc. (“Club”) recognizes the potential danger and long-term health consequences of concussions in baseball.  This Policy is intended to provide guidelines related to players diagnosed with or suspected of having a concussion. This Policy is for Coaches, Parents and Players but may also be shared with Club participants or volunteers.

Coaches

• Coaches, on their own time, will watch in its entirety at least once every two years one of the following two educational videos:
• “Concussion in Sports – What you Need to Know” from the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)
• “Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports Online Concussion Training” from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• Before each season, all Coaches will be required to review a copy of CDC’s “Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports, A Fact Sheet for Coaches” document or a similar document to be approved by the Club.
• Though a rare occurrence, if a Player becomes unconscious during a session, the Coach will call 911 or will instruct another adult to call
• When, during a session, a Player becomes unconscious or suspected of having a concussion, the Coach will remove the Player from the activity for the remainder of the The Coach will keep the Player out even if the player insists he is fine or “ok” to continue participating.
• The Coach will inform the Player’s Parent or guardian of the Player’s symptoms as soon as Ideally, the Parent will be notified immediately.
• When the Player returns for a future session, if (based on the Coach’s understanding of concussion symptoms) the Coach suspects the player is still exhibiting symptoms, the Coach will keep the player from the activity.

Parents

• When a Parent registers their Player to play with the Club, they will be required to agree to substantially the following:

If my child is diagnosed with a concussion during a Scots Baseball activity or during ANY OTHER ACTIVITY (including those outside Scots Baseball), or if my player has a prior head injury, I will inform my child’s Coach of such diagnosis prior to the start of the season and/or before my child returns to play.

• At the start of each season, Parents will acknowledge the following:
  • A brief explanation of this Policy and the importance of the Parent’s role in understanding
  • Availability of this Policy on the Club’s web
  • Availability of the CDC’s “Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports, A Fact Sheet for Parents” document or similar document approved by the Club.
  • Availability of the two educational videos approved above for review by Coaches.
  • Availability of appropriate baseline tests such as that from Axon Sports.

Players

• All Players U10 and older will be expected to review the CDC’s “Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports, A Fact Sheet for Players”
• All Players U12 and older will be asked to watch at least once every two years either of the two educational videos approved above for review by Coaches.

Concussion Return to Play Guidelines

A Player who is suspected of sustaining a concussion or a head injury in a practice, game or competition shall be removed from the activity at that time based on evaluation and determination by the Head Coach. However, if an officially licensed athletic trainer or other officially qualified medical professional is on site and available to render such evaluation, that person shall always have final authority as to the Player’s removal or return to play.

When an officially licensed athletic trainer or other officially qualified medical professional is not present, and a Parent or guardian of the injured Player is serving as head coach, the final authority on removal of a Player shall rest with the top ranking assistant head coach or Club official, whoever is present and highest in the chain of command.

Any Player who has been removed from practice, play or competition due to a head injury or suspected concussion may not return to Club activities until the Player has been evaluated by a currently licensed medical professional trained in the evaluation and management of concussions and has received written clearance from that licensed medical professional to return to play.

The Club recommends that all decisions be made in the best interest of the child affected and, when any doubt exists as to the health of a Player, the Player should sit out.  Please review the chart from the CDC for concussion signs and symptoms: www.cdc.gov/concussion.

All teams are recommended to have a staff member carry the entire team’s medical release forms and emergency numbers for all Players in case a Parent or guardian must be contacted in an emergency. Having the family physician’s number opposite the Player’s name is also recommended.