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4300(R)ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS REGARDING CONCUSSION MANAGEMENT AND TRAINING FOR ATHLETIC COACHES

Series 4300 (R)
Personnel

 

ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS REGARDING CONCUSSION MANAGEMENT AND TRAINING FOR ATHLETIC COACHES

 

For purposes of these administrative regulations concerning training regarding concussions and head injuries, the term “coach” means any person who holds or is issued a coaching permit by the Connecticut State Department of Education and who is hired by the Meriden Board of Education to coach intramural or interscholastic athletics.  

 

Mandatory Training Concerning Concussions

 

  1. Any coach of intramural or interscholastic athletics, who holds or is issued a coaching permit, must, before commencing his/her coaching assignment for the season, complete an initial training course concerning concussions, which are a type of brain injury.  This training course must be approved by the State Department of Education.

 

  1. Coaches must provide proof of initial course completion to the Athletic Director or his/her designee prior to commencing their coaching assignments for the season in which they coach.

 

  1. One year after receiving an initial training, and every year thereafter, coaches must review current and relevant information regarding concussions prior to commencing their coaching assignments for the season.  This current and relevant information shall be that approved by the State Department of Education.  Coaches need not review this information in the year they are required to take a refresher course, as discussed below.  

 

  1. Coaches must complete a refresher course concerning concussions and head injuries not later than five (5) years after receiving their initial training course, and once every five (5) years thereafter.  Coaches must provide proof of refresher course completion to the Athletic Director or his/her designee prior to commencing their coaching assignments for the season in which they coach.

 

  1. The Board shall consider a coach as having successfully completed the initial training course regarding concussions and head injuries if such coach completes a course that is offered by the governing authority for intramural and interscholastic athletics and is substantially similar, as determined by the Department of Education, to the training course required by subsection 1 of these administrative regulations, provided such substantially similar course is completed on or after January 1, 2010, but prior to the date the State Board of Education approves the training course discussed in subsection 1 of these administrative regulations.

 

Concussion Management

 

  1. Any coach of any intramural or interscholastic athletics shall immediately remove a student athlete from participating in any intramural or interscholastic athletic activity who:

 

  1. is observed to exhibit signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion following an observed or suspected blow to the head or body; or

 

  1. is diagnosed with a concussion, regardless of when such concussion may have occurred.

 

  1. Upon removal from participation, a school principal, teacher, licensed athletic trainer, licensed physical or occupational therapist employed by a school district, or coach shall notify the student athlete’s parent or legal guardian that the student athlete has exhibited such, signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion or has been diagnosed with a concussion.  Such principal, teacher, licensed athletic trainer, licensed physical or occupational therapist employed by a school district, or coach shall provide such notification not later than twenty-four (24) hours after such removal and shall make a reasonable effort to provide such notification immediately after such removal.

 

  1. The coach shall not permit such student athlete to participate in any supervised team activities involving physical exertion, including, but not limited to, practices, games or competitions, until such student athlete receives written clearance to participate in such supervised team activities involving physical exertion from a licensed health care professional trained in the evaluation and management of concussions.

 

  1. Following receipt of clearance, the coach shall not permit such student athlete to participate in any full, unrestricted supervised team activities without limitations on contact or physical exertion, including, but not limited to, practices, games or competitions, until such student athlete:

 

  1. no longer exhibits signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion at rest or with exertion; and

 

  1. receives written clearance to participate in such full, unrestricted supervised team activities from a licensed health care professional trained in the evaluation and management of concussions.

 

  1. The Board shall prohibit a student athlete from participating in any intramural or interscholastic athletic activity unless the student athlete, and a parent or guardian of such athlete:

 

  1. reads written materials;

 

  1. views online training videos; or

 

  1. attends in-person training regarding the concussion education plan developed or approved by the State Board of Education.

 

  1. The Board shall annually provide each participating student athlete’s parent or legal guardian with a copy of an informed consent form approved by the State Board of Education and obtain the parent or guardian’s signature, attesting to the fact that such parent or guardian has received a copy of such form and authorizes the student athlete to participate in the athletic activity.

 

Reporting Requirements

 

  1. The school principal, teacher, licensed athletic trainer, licensed physical or occupational therapist employed by a school district, or coach who informs a student athlete’s parent or guardian of the possible occurrence of a concussion shall also report such incident to the nurse supervisor, or designee.

 

  1. The nurse supervisor, or designee, shall follow-up on the incident with the student and/or the student’s parent or guardian and maintain a record of all incidents of diagnosed concussions.  Such record shall include, if know:

 

  1. The nature and extent of the concussion; and

 

  1. The circumstances in which the student sustained the concussion.

 

  1. The nurse supervisor, or designee, shall annually provide such record to the State Board of Education.

 

Miscellaneous

 

  1. For purposes of these administrative regulations, “licensed health care professional” means a physician licensed pursuant to Chapter 370 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a physician assistant licensed pursuant to Chapter 370 of the Connecticut General Statutes, an advanced practice registered nurse licensed pursuant to Chapter 378 of the Connecticut General Statutes, or an athletic trainer licensed pursuant to Chapter 375a of the Connecticut General Statutes.

 

  1. Should a coach fail to adhere to the requirements of these administrative regulations, the coach may be subject to discipline up to and including termination, as well as permit revocation by the State Board of Education.



Legal References

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-149b. Training courses for coaches re concussions and head injuries.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-149c. Student athletes and concussions. Removal from athletic activities.

 

Public Act 14-66, “An Act Concerning Youth Athletics And Concussions”

 

ADOPTED: November 17, 2015

Approved 11/17/2015
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