The RSU #14 Board of Directors recognizes that concussions and head injuries are commonly reported injuries in children and adolescents who participate in sports and other recreational activities. The Board recognizes the seriousness of concussions, the emerging scientific and medical understanding of the academic and physical impacts of concussions, and the need for careful handling of the post-injury healing process.
All coaches in RSU #14, including volunteer coaches, and all school personnel (including volunteers) identified by the Concussion Policy Management Team will be trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of a concussion and the management of concussive and other head injuries. The training must be consistent with such protocols as may be identified or developed by the Maine Department of Education and include instruction in the use of such forms as the DOE may develop or require. Coaches are required to immediately remove any athlete with suspicion of a concussion from all sports until proper clearance is received by a physician specifically trained in concussion management.
It is the responsibility of the coach/teacher of the activity to act in accordance with this policy when the coach/teacher recognizes that a student may be exhibiting signs, symptoms, and behaviors associated with a concussion or other head injury.
Any student suspected of having sustained a concussion or other head injury during a school-sponsored athletic activity, including but not limited to competition, practice, or scrimmage, or during a school learning activity, must be removed from the activity immediately. The student and his/her parent/ guardian will be informed of the need for an evaluation for brain injury before the student will be allowed to return to the activity.
No student will be permitted to return to the activity or to participate in any other school-sponsored athletic activity on the day of the suspected concussion.
Any student who is suspected of having sustained a concussion or other head injury shall be prohibited from further participation in school-sponsored athletic activities or learning activities until he/she has been evaluated and received written medical clearance to do so from a licensed health care provider who is qualified and trained in concussion management. More than one evaluation by the health care provider may be necessary before the student is cleared for full participation. Coaches and other school personnel shall comply with the student’s health care provider’s recommendations.
If a district has concerns or questions about the private medical provider’s orders, the district concussion specialist should contact that provider to discuss and clarify. Additionally, the concussion specialist has the final authority to clear students to participate in or return to extra-class physical activities.
School personnel should be alert to cognitive and academic issues that may be experienced by students who have suffered a concussion or other head injury, including but not limited to difficulty with concentration, organization, long-and-short-term memory and sensitivity to bright lights and sounds, and accommodate a gradual return to full participation in academic activities as appropriate, based on the recommendations of the student’s health care provider and appropriate designated school personnel.
Returning to Sport:
Any student who is suspected of having sustained a concussion or other head injury shall be prohibited from further participation in school-sponsored athletic activities or learning activities (classes) until he/she has been evaluated and received written medical clearance to do so from a licensed health care provider who is qualified and trained in concussion management.
The athlete can either see their primary care physician (if trained in concussion management) or they can see Dr. Bean at Maine Medical Partners Orthopedic and Sports in Windham, concussion specialist, to get clearance to return to class at school.
NOTE: The initial assessment by the physician clears the athlete to return to school and class.
Return to Play Protocol:
Athletes are also required to follow the ‘Return to Play Transition Steps’:
Step 1: Athlete will participate in cardio. They athlete will walk, run, or bike for 30 minutes.
Step 2: Athlete will participate in a light practice with the following restriction: NO heading, NO tackling/hitting, NO stunting
Step 3: Athlete will participate in a full practice with no restriction
Step 4: Athlete may participate in a game
All coaches in RSU #14, including volunteer coaches, and all school personnel (including volunteers) identified by the Concussion Policy Management Team will be trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of a concussion and the management of concussive and other head injuries. The training must be consistent with such protocols as may be identified or developed by the Maine Department of Education and include instruction in the use of such forms as the DOE may develop or require. Coaches are required to immediately remove any athlete with suspicion of a concussion from all sports until proper clearance is received by a physician specifically trained in concussion management.
It is the responsibility of the coach/teacher of the activity to act in accordance with this policy when the coach/teacher recognizes that a student may be exhibiting signs, symptoms, and behaviors associated with a concussion or other head injury.
Any student suspected of having sustained a concussion or other head injury during a school-sponsored athletic activity, including but not limited to competition, practice, or scrimmage, or during a school learning activity, must be removed from the activity immediately. The student and his/her parent/ guardian will be informed of the need for an evaluation for brain injury before the student will be allowed to return to the activity.
No student will be permitted to return to the activity or to participate in any other school-sponsored athletic activity on the day of the suspected concussion.
Any student who is suspected of having sustained a concussion or other head injury shall be prohibited from further participation in school-sponsored athletic activities or learning activities until he/she has been evaluated and received written medical clearance to do so from a licensed health care provider who is qualified and trained in concussion management. More than one evaluation by the health care provider may be necessary before the student is cleared for full participation. Coaches and other school personnel shall comply with the student’s health care provider’s recommendations.
If a district has concerns or questions about the private medical provider’s orders, the district concussion specialist should contact that provider to discuss and clarify. Additionally, the concussion specialist has the final authority to clear students to participate in or return to extra-class physical activities.
School personnel should be alert to cognitive and academic issues that may be experienced by students who have suffered a concussion or other head injury, including but not limited to difficulty with concentration, organization, long-and-short-term memory and sensitivity to bright lights and sounds, and accommodate a gradual return to full participation in academic activities as appropriate, based on the recommendations of the student’s health care provider and appropriate designated school personnel.
Returning to Sport:
Any student who is suspected of having sustained a concussion or other head injury shall be prohibited from further participation in school-sponsored athletic activities or learning activities (classes) until he/she has been evaluated and received written medical clearance to do so from a licensed health care provider who is qualified and trained in concussion management.
The athlete can either see their primary care physician (if trained in concussion management) or they can see Dr. Bean at Maine Medical Partners Orthopedic and Sports in Windham, concussion specialist, to get clearance to return to class at school.
NOTE: The initial assessment by the physician clears the athlete to return to school and class.
Return to Play Protocol:
Athletes are also required to follow the ‘Return to Play Transition Steps’:
Step 1: Athlete will participate in cardio. They athlete will walk, run, or bike for 30 minutes.
Step 2: Athlete will participate in a light practice with the following restriction: NO heading, NO tackling/hitting, NO stunting
Step 3: Athlete will participate in a full practice with no restriction
Step 4: Athlete may participate in a game
Helpful Concussion Websites:
