Head Injuries

On May 14, 2009 the Governor of Washington Christine Gregoire signed the Zackery Lystedt Law.  Effective July 26, 2009, the Lystedt Law directly affects youth sports and head injury policies in the State of Washington. The new law requires that:

1. An informed consent must be signed by parents and youth athletes acknowledging the risk of head injury prior to practice or competition
2. A youth athlete who is suspected of sustaining a concussion or head injury must be removed from play - "when in doubt, sit them out"
3. A youth athlete who has been removed from play must receive written clearance from a licensed health care provider prior to returning to play

THE FACTS A concussion is a brain injury. All concussions are serious. Concussions can occur without loss of consciousness. Concussions can occur in any sport. Recognition and proper management of concussions when they first occur can help prevent further injury or even death.

 PREVENTION AND PREPARATION
As a coach and/or administrator, you can play a key role in preventing concussions and responding to them properly when they occur. Here are some steps that can be taken to ensure the best outcome for your athletes and the team:

• Educate athletes and parents about concussion. Talk with athletes and their parents about the dangers and potential long-term consequences of concussion. For more information on long-term effects of concussion, view the following online video clip: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/tbi/Coaches_Tool_Kit.htm#Video. Explain your concerns about concussion and your expectations of safe play to athletes, parents, and assistant coaches. Pass out the concussion fact sheets for athletes and for parents at the beginning of the season and again if a concussion occurs. 

• Insist that safety comes first.
• Teach athletes safe playing techniques and encourage them to follow the rules of play.
• Encourage athletes to practice good sportsmanship at all times.
• Make sure athletes wear the right protective equipment for their activity (such as shin guards). Protective equipment should fit properly, be well maintained, and be worn consistently and correctly.
• Review the athlete fact sheet with your team to help them recognize the signs and symptoms of a concussion.

• Teach athletes and parents that it's not smart to play with a concussion. Sometimes players and parents wrongly believe that it shows strength and courage to play injured. Discourage others from pressuring injured athletes to play. Don't let athletes persuade you that they're "just fine" after they have sustained any bump or blow to the head. Ask if players have ever had a concussion. 
• Prevent long-term problems. A repeat concussion that occurs before the brain recovers from the first-usually within a short period of time (hours, days, or weeks)-can slow recovery or increase the likelihood of having long-term problems. In rare cases, repeat concussions can result in brain swelling, permanent brain damage, and even death. This more serious condition is called second impact syndrome.4,5 Keep athletes with known or suspected concussion from play until they have been evaluated and given permission to return to play by a health care professional with experience in evaluating for concussion. Remind your athletes: "It's better to miss one game than the whole season."

Below are links to resources published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Information for Coaches:

• Introductory Letter PDF
• Guide for Coaches PDF
• Coach's Wallet Card PDF
• Coach's Clipboard Sticker PDF
• Symptoms of Concussion Poster PDF
• Main Message Poster PDF

 Information for Athletes:

• Fact Sheet for Athletes PDF

 Information for Parents:

• Fact Sheet for Parents PDF

Video:  Video Format: Windows RealOne Video Connection Speed: Dialup Dialup Broadband Broadband  Text Only:   Script for Video