State Law Regarding Sports-Related Head Injury and Concussions

Concussion FORM I – Massachusetts General Law Chapter 166

Regarding Sports-Related Head Injury and Concussions

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services now requires that all schools subject to the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) rules adhere to the following Massachusetts General Law Chapter 166.

Student-athletes and their parents, coaches, athletic directors, athletic trainers, school nurses, and physicians must learn about the consequences of head injuries and concussions through training programs and written materials. The law requires that athletes and their parents inform their coaches about prior head injuries at the beginning of the season. Any student athlete who exhibits signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion (such as loss of consciousness, headache, dizziness, confusion, or balance problems) shall be immediately removed from the practice or competition and must not return to practice or competition that day, and further shall not return to play until cleared by your family physician or neurologist when appropriate.

Participation in all sport activities carries an inherent risk of injury and while many preventative actions can be taken to reduce the risk of injury such as proper fitting equipment, conditioning programs and good nutrition practices, this will not prevent injury occurring in all instances.

Parents and student-athletes who plan to participate in any athletic program at Diamond Middle School must also take a free on-line course. Two free on-line courses are available and contain all the information required by the law. The first is available through the National Federation of High School Coaches. You will need to click the “order here” button and complete a brief information form to register. At the end of the course, you will receive a completion receipt. The entire course, including registration, can be completed in less than 30 minutes. Go To:

The Second on-line course is available through the Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention at:

Additional Concussion Resources:

BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION OF MASSACHUSETTS (BIAMA) –

Supporting the Student-Athlete’s Return to the Classroom After a Sport-Related

Concussion

Please tear off and return to your coach

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Please sign below that you have read the State Law regarding Sports-Related head Injury and concussions, and completed one of the courses listed above. This is required in order to participate on any athletic team at Diamond Middle School. Thank you for your cooperation in helping to keep Lexington student-athletes safe.

Parent/Guardian SignatureDate

Student-Athlete SignatureDate