Proper education on the signs, symptoms, prevention and treatment of concussions is a major health and safety issue with interscholastic athletics. Concussions have the ability to show signs not just right after a bump, blow or jolt to the head or body but days or even weeks after the occurrence. This section of the MPSSAA Health and Safety site is dedicated to providing the most up-to-date resources on concussion management for coaches, parents and student-athletes.
During the 2011 session, the Maryland General Assembly enacted legislation requiring the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) to develop policies and provide recommendations to strengthen concussion awareness throughout the State. MSDE, in collaboration with MPSSAA, as well as other state and local agencies and health care providers, issued a new publication on 8/19/11 designed to help local school systems implement concussion awareness programs. Entitled
"Policies and Programs on Concussions for Public Schools and Youth Sports", this publication spotlights the nature and risk of a concussion or head injury; the criteria for removal from competition and return to play; the risk of not reporting an injury; and appropriate academic accommodations for injured athletes. New to the procedures is a requirement from legislation that parents and athletes sign off on the receipt of concussion information and the need for outside youth sport organizations to verify a concussion awareness program prior to the use of school facilities. The publication reflects current MPSSAA practices and procedures and has been sent electronically to all 24 Maryland public school systems. The document may also be found on the MSDE website at
www.marylandpublicschools.org.
