Policies and Regulations

When in doubt, sit them out!

 

The following three guidelines should be used by all members of the Wisconsin Rugby Football Union concerning concussions or possible concussions:

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1. Before a student may participate in practice of competition: At the beginning of a season for a youth athletic activity, the person operating the youth athletic activity shall distribute a concussion and head injury information sheet to each person who will be coaching that youth athletic activity. No person may participate in a youth athletic activity unless the person returns the information sheet signed by the person and, if he or she is under the age of 19, by his or her parent or guardian.

2. An athletic coach, or official involved in a youth athletic activity, or health care provider, shall remove a person from the youth athletic activity if the coach, official, or health care provider determines that the person exhibits signs, symptoms, or behavior consistent with a concussion or head injury or the coach, official, or health care provider suspects the person has sustained a concussion or head injury.

3. A person who has been removed from a youth athletic activity may not participate in a youth athletic activity until he or she is evaluated by a health care provider and receives a written clearance to participate in the activity from the health care provider.

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WIAA Resources

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association maintains excellent resources regarding concussions that should be reviewed by all members of the WRFU.

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Signs of a Concussion

These are some signs of a concussion (what others can see in an injured athlete):

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• Dazed or stunned appearance

• Change in the level of consciousness or awareness

• Confused about assignment

• Forgets plays

• Unsure of score, game, or opponent

• Clumsy

• Answers more slowly than usual

• Shows behavior changes

• Loss of consciousness

• Asks repetitive questions or has memory concerns

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Symptoms of a Concussion

These are some symptoms of a concussion (what an injured athlete feels):

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• Headache

• Nausea

• Dizzy or unsteady

• Sensitive to light or noise

• Feeling mentally foggy

• Problems with concentration and memory

• Confused

• Slow

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Injured athletes can exhibit many or just a few of the signs and/or symptoms of a concussion. However, if a player exhibits any signs/symptoms of a concussion, the responsibility is simple: remove them from participation. "When in doubt, sit them out."

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Return to Play

Current recommendation are for a stepwise return-to-play program. In order to resume activity, the athlete:

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1. Must be symptom free and off any pain control or headache medications,

2. should be carrying a full academic load without any significant accommodations, and

3. must have clearance from an appropriate healthcare provider.

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The program described below is a guideline for returning concussed athletes when they are symptom-free.

ATHLETES WITH MULTIPLE CONCUSSIONS AND ATHLETES WITH PROLONGED SYMPTOMS OFTEN REQUIRE A DIFFERENT RETURN TO ACTIVITY PROGRAM AND SHOULD BE MANAGED BY A PHYSICIAN THAT HAS EXPERIENCE IN TREATING CONCUSSIONS.

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The following program allows for one step per 24 hours. The program allows for gradual increase in heart rate/physical exertion, coordination, and then allows for contact. If symptoms return, the athlete should stop activity and notify their healthcare provide before progressing to the next level.

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1. About 15 minutes of light exercise: stationary biking or jogging.

2. More strenuous running and sprinting in the gym or field without equipment.

3. Begin non-contact drills in full uniform. May also resume weight-lifting.

4. Full practice with contact.

5. Full game clearance.

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Wisconsin Legislature

118.293 CONCUSSION AND HEAD INJURY

This information is current as of May 14, 2014. The official and most recent version of this legislation at wisconsin.gov should always be consulted.

(1) In this section: 

1. "Credential" means a license or certificate of certification issued by this state.

2. "Health care provider" means a person to whom all of the following apply: 

   1. He or she holds a credential that authorizes the person to provide health care.

   2. He or she is trained and has experience in evaluating and managing pediatric concussions and head injuries.

   3. He or she is practicing within the scope of his or her credential.

3. "Youth athletic activity" means an organized athletic activity in which the participants, a majority of whom are under 19 years of age, are engaged in an athletic game or competition against another team, club, or entity, or in practice or preparation for an organized athletic game or competition against another team, club, or entity. "Youth athletic activity" does not include a college or university activity or an activity that is incidental to a nonathletic program. 

(2) In consultation with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, the department shall develop guidelines and other information for the purpose of educating athletic coaches and pupil athletes and their parents or guardians about the nature and risk of concussion and head injury in youth athletic activities.

(3)

1. At the beginning of a season for a youth athletic activity, the person operating the youth athletic activity shall distribute a concussion and head injury information sheet to each person who will be coaching that youth athletic activity and to each person who wishes to participate in that youth athletic activity. No person may participate in a youth athletic activity unless the person returns the information sheet signed by the person and, if he or she is under the age of 19, by his or her parent or guardian.

2. 
    

   1. Notwithstanding par. (a), a public or private school is not required to distribute an information sheet to a pupil enrolled in the school who wishes to participate in a youth athletic activity operated by the school during a school year, and a pupil enrolled in the school may participate in that youth athletic activity without returning an appropriately signed information sheet for that activity, if the pupil has returned an appropriately signed information sheet for another youth athletic activity operated by the school during the same school year.

   2. Notwithstanding par. (a), a private club is not required to distribute an information sheet to a person who wishes to participate in a youth athletic activity operated by the private club, and a person may participate in that youth athletic activity without returning an appropriately signed information sheet for the activity, if the person has returned an appropriately signed information sheet to the club within the previous 365 days.

(4)

1. An athletic coach, or official involved in a youth athletic activity, or health care provider shall remove a person from the youth athletic activity if the coach, official, or health care provider determines that the person exhibits signs, symptoms, or behavior consistent with a concussion or head injury or the coach, official, or health care provider suspects the person has sustained a concussion or head injury.

2. A person who has been removed from a youth athletic activity under par. (a) may not participate in a youth athletic activity until he or she is evaluated by a health care provider and receives a written clearance to participate in the activity from the health care provider.

(5)

1. Any athletic coach, official involved in an athletic activity, or volunteer who fails to remove a person from a youth athletic activity under sub. (4) (a) is immune from civil liability for any injury resulting from that omission unless it constitutes gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.

2. Any volunteer who authorizes a person to participate in a youth athletic activity under sub. (4) (b) is immune from civil liability for any injury resulting from that act unless the act constitutes gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.

(6) This section does not create any liability for, or a cause of action against, any person.

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Consent Form

Feel free to download and use this sample statement acknowledging receipt of education and responsibility to report signs or symptoms of a concussion to be included as part of your "Participant and Parental Disclosure and Consent Document."