As part of our co-sponsorship agreement with the City of Allen, our coaches are required to follow the City of Allen Parks and Recreation Department Concussion Policy. 

Coaches are asked to follow the City of Allen's policy as outlined below:

The City of Allen Parks and Recreation Department Concussion Policy

The City of Allen’s Concussion Policy defines the process for identifying and treating concussions, as well as reducing serious health risks related to head injuries sustained in City-sponsored events. This policy shall be enforced for all youth and adult athletic programs sponsored or coordinated by the department and/or occurring on City park property.

Concussion Overview

According to the CDC, a concussion is a traumatic brain injury typically caused by bump, blow, or jolt to the head or impact to the body that causes the head and brain to move quickly back and forth.

• Concussions may chemically change the brain by stretching or damaging brain cells
• Effects of a concussion can be serious
• Athletes who have had a previous concussion have a higher chance of getting another concussion; repeat concussions may lead to more severe symptoms and longer recovery
• Children are more at risk for long term effects from concussions due to their brains still being in development
• Most concussion injuries in sports are caused by player-to-player contact

Preventing Head Injuries

• In order to prevent head injuries and concussions:
• Foster an environment and enforce rules that limit the risk of impact to the head
• Talk to athletes and their families about head injuries and review common signs and symptoms
• Encourage concussion reporting – remind athletes that you expect them to report blows, bumps, or jolts to their head
• Regularly check and inspect equipment and facilities for hazards before play
• Post CDC Heads Up concussion awareness and prevention posters at facilities
• Make CDC Heads Up information available to participants and parents each sports season

In addition, any Parks and Recreation staff, including full-time, part-time and seasonal/temporary, as well as department volunteers, that work in a recreation facility or with athletics programming, are required to complete a free CDC Heads Up Online Concussion Training annually.

Youth sports associations, leagues, and other organizations conducting athletic programming in partnership with the City must:

• Provide to the City annually a copy of their concussion protocol (which meets or exceeds the standards detailed here), as well as display it on their website
• Staff, coaches, and volunteers will complete training as required by their association/league’s concussion protocol
• If no concussion protocol exits, or if protocol does not include concussion training, association/league staff and volunteers must complete a free CDC Heads Up Online Concussion Training annually

Identifying Concussions

Athletes who experience or exhibit one or more of the signs or symptoms listed below after a bump, blow, or jolt to the head/body may have a concussion.

Signs observed by coaches, parents, or teammates:

• Appears dazed, stunned or confused
• Forgetfulness
• Clumsy movements
• Slow to respond to questions
• Mood, behavior or personality changes
• Inability to recall events prior to the hit or fall or Inability to recall events after the hit or fall

Symptoms reported by athlete:

• Headache or “pressure” feeling in the head
• Nausea or vomiting
• Balance problems or dizziness
• Double or blurry vision
• Sensitivity to light or noise
• Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy
• Concentration problems, memory problems, or confusion
• Just not “feeling right” or feeling “down”

 Call 911 immediately if athlete displays signs of a more serious brain injury:

• Loss of consciousness (passing out) even for a moment
• A headache that gets worse and does not go away
• Significant nausea or repeated vomiting
• Unusual behavior, increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation
• Drowsiness or inability to wake up
• Slurred speech, weakness, numbness, or decreased coordination,
• Convulsions or seizures (shaking or twitching)

Suspected Concussion

An individual with a suspected concussion needs to see a medical provider right away.

• Remove athlete from play immediately. Keep an athlete with a possible head injury out of play until he or she is cleared by a healthcare provider. Only a medical professional should assess a concussion. When in doubt, sit them out.
• Notify a minor’s parent/guardian.
• Be prepared to share the following information with a medical provider:
• Any medications, including prescriptions or over-the-counter medicines, the injured athlete is taking
• Cause of injury
• Any loss of consciousness (passed out/knocked out) and duration
• Any memory loss immediately following the injury
• Any seizures immediately following the injury
• Number of previous concussions, if applicable

Returning to Play

Recovery from a concussion may take weeks or months. An athlete should follow all steps advised by their medical professional, but if symptoms are still present 4-6 weeks after the incident, he or she should return to a medical professional for evaluation.

An athlete should only return to sports participation (including practices and games) with the approval of and under the supervision of their health care provider.

More Information

For more information regarding head injuries and concussions, visit the CDC Heads Up website or review their Concussion Information Sheet.