Concussion Policy

NSSC wants to ensure our players are provided the safest environment possible. As a result, we are instituting a concussion policy to help provide guidelines related to players who have been diagnosed with or are suspected of having a concussion.
  • All coaches are required to take the Center for Disease Control (CDC) online training course. A copy of the certificate received must be provided to the NSSC for each respective season. We also highly recommend that parents and athletes take the time to review this course and related information provided below.
 

Click to go to the CDC Heads Up Awareness page.

Concussion Information Sheet

For coaches click to go to the CDC Online Training Course page

 
  • All Coaches are required to sit a player out for the remainder of a practice or game if the player sustains a blow to the head or a jarring collision that causes the coach to suspect a possible mild or traumatic brain injury.
  • The coach is required to notify the parents/legal guardians of the incident. NSSC coaches are parent volunteers who, with very limited exception, are not medically trained or certified and may not be able to spot a situation in which a player may have sustained a head or other injury.
  • The coach is also required to inform the NSSC Vice President of Competitive or Recreation of the incident citing the date of the injury, the date the parents/legal guardians were notified, how they were notified (conversation, email, voicemail, etc.), and a brief description of the circumstances surrounding the incident.
  • If a coach suspects a concussion and requires a player to sit out, that player will not be allowed to return to soccer until the coach is provided with written clearance from a medical professional. The coach will inform the NSSC Vice President of Competitive or Recreation that he or she received the note clearing the player to resume activities. “NSSC Coaches” means all volunteer Head Coaches and Assistant Coaches, who unless otherwise indicated are not qualified medical professionals.
  • Qualified medical professional means a professional with expertise on concussion for example: pediatricians, pediatric neurologists, and sports medicine specialists who have been certified by the state to provide care for patients with concussion or post-concussive symptoms.
  • When a Parent/legal guardian registers their player, they will be required to agree to the following: “I have read and understand the Northern Strikers Soccer club concussion policy. If my child is diagnosed with a concussion during a NSSC activity or during an activity outside of a NSSC event, I will inform my child’s Coach of such diagnosis immediately and provide medical clearance documentation from a medical professional prior to their being permitted to return to NSSC play.”