CVSA Concussion Protocol for Coaches and Parents
The CVSA Board feels that it is critical for parents, volunteer coaches, referees and all club members to help keep our hockey players safe. Therefore, we are asking club members to carefully read and consider this protocol for concussion recognition and management.
What is a concussion?
Concussions are common sport injuries, and are particularly common among children and adolescents involved in organized sports such as ice hockey. Concussions result from a blow to the head or body that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the skull. It can also result from a fall, players colliding with each other, or players colliding with the boards or a goal. A player does not have to lose consciousness to suffer a concussion. A concussion is defined as a brain injury which results in a temporary disruption of normal brain function.
What are symptoms of a concussion?
Generally the following are symptoms and signs of a concussion:
- Poor balance or coordination
- Slow or slurred speech
- Poor concentration, confusion, or disorientation
- Delayed responses to questions
- Vacant stare and feeling dazed or seeing stars
- Decreased playing ability
- Unusual emotions, personality change such as irritability, and inappropriate behavior
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Sensitivity to light
- Ringing in ears
- Tiredness
- Nausea, vomiting
Please note that symptoms and signs may have a delayed onset (may be worse later that day or even the next morning), so players should continue to be observed even after the initial symptoms and signs have returned to normal.
CVSA Protocol for Concussions
It is not always possible for coaches or any one parent to see everything that happens on the ice during a practice or game, therefore we are asking that all club members consider their response when they believe a concussion has occurred. In addition, symptoms of concussion can be subtle and may be overlooked by coaches, players and parents. If you believe a child has sustained a concussion, please make the parent coordinator or a coach aware of what has occurred. Coaches will then undertake the following protocol:
If there is loss of consciousness a coach or parent volunteer will immediately call an ambulance.
- If a parent, player or coach has observed an injury to the head or neck that causes concern and there is not a loss of consciousness, a coach will begin with an evaluation on the bench by asking three questions along the lines of:
- What is the score?
- What did you have for breakfast?
- Can you tell me what happened on the ice (when you hit your head)?
- If the player does not pass this first screening, a coach will remove the player from the current game or practice and bring the player to the locker room to further assess the situation.
- A coach or a volunteer parent will first find a parent or family member to inform them of the injury.
- Coaches are trained through USA hockey to determine potential concussions and they will go through a concussion assessment that may include recognizing the following signs: a player answers questions slowly, cannot recall what has occurred, or appears confused.
- Only if the player, parent and coach agree that the injury is not significant and no concussion has occurred can the player return to the bench or practice.
- If the coach, player or parent feels that there may be a concussion, the player will not return to practice or the game until the player has been evaluated by a medical doctor.
- Please note that following evaluation for concussion, a player should not be left alone for the first 24 to 48 hours. Parents should monitor the child or youth for worsening symptoms. If there are any signs of deterioration the child or youth should be re-evaluated immediately by a physician.
Returning to play or practice after a concussion has occurred
The medical protocol is that athlete should rest from physical and cognitive activities to allow for recovery from concussion. Once symptoms have completely resolved at rest, players can progress through an exertion protocol offered by their doctor before being medically cleared to return to play. Please let the coach know about the diagnosis and about their return to practice and game protocol recommended by a doctor.