OHSAA Protocol and

Procedures

NFHS adopted a new concussion rule with respect to safety and stoppage of the match until an Appropriate Health-Care Professional (AHCP) can attend the

wrestler.

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury that interferes with

normal brain function.

It occurs when the brain is rocked back and forth or twisted inside the skull as a result of a blow to the

head or body.

Athletes with continued concussion symptoms are at significant risk for recurrent, cumulative and even catastrophic consequences of a

second concussive injury.

The position of the NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC) is that no athlete should return to competition or practice on that same day after suffering a

concussion.

The responsibility of further evaluating and managing the athlete with a possible concussion falls upon the head coach, appropriate health-care professional or other individual designated by

school administrators.

If there is no appropriate health- care professional available to evaluate the contestant, the contestant SHOULD NOT be allowed by the head coach to return to

competition.

NFHS RULE 8.2. Art. 4 ... “ Any contestant 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 match and shall not return to competition until cleared by an appropriate health-care

professional.

NFHS RULE 8.2. Art. 5 ... “A designated, on-site appropriate health-care professional who determined a wrestler should not participate, shall not be overruled.”The OHSAA has approved as the appropriate health-care professional any one of three professionals; an MD, a DO or a

licensed ATC.

SITUATION During a match wrestler A shoots a low double leg and his head drives into the opponent’s knee. Wrestler A falls back and holds his head. The referee notices he is dazed, loses his balance getting up to his feet, then

collapse down to one knee.

A. As there is no AHCP at the dual meet,

the injury time will expire.B. The coach calls for the Physician, and while on injury time the Physician will not allow the wrestler to continue.

C. The coach calls for the designated on-site physician, and while on injury time the physician clears the wrestler and stipulate he is not concussed and may return to

competition.

D. A tournament with the AHCP busy and unable to evaluate the wrestler and injury time expires.

The wrestler will lose the match due to injury time expiration. The wrestler can subsequently be evaluated for possible clearance and return to wrestling.

The OHSAA has now provided several necessary forms to record a concussion stoppage and medical release back to

competition.

In Situation A, B, C, & D the referee must complete the OHSAA concussion report form and submit the form within 48 hours to OHSAA.In C & D if the wrestler is to return to wrestling, the return to wrestling form must be completed by the official involved in the match with that official submitting a copy of the form along with the concussion report form to the OHSAA within 48 hours.

The return to competition release forms must be competed to return to any competition whether it is the same match or a match in the next round of a bracket tournament or the next dual meet. This is a same day return to competition policy.

Time for the AHCP to complete the return to wrestling form is “official’s time” and will not be included in “injury time”.

The coach and parents are responsible for his team members subsequent care.Officials are not responsible for follow-up

evaluations.

What will occur if a during a tournament a wrestler continues to wrestle and has not been cleared by an AHCP?

A wrestler who by rule was not allowed to return to competition and therefore was an ineligible wrestler, must forfeit

any match.The coach is automatically suspended from further coaching until he and his administrator meet with the OHSAA Commissioner to explain his violation of the return to competition policy.

After the referee stops the match due to signs, symptoms and behaviors of a suspected concussion wrestler A is on injury time. Just: 15 seconds into injury time wrestler A’s nose

begins to bleed.

It is important to remember blood takes precedent over other injuries. Therefore, the referee stops and records the injury time then must immediately start the blood

clock for wrestler A.

Blood is stopped and blood time recorded.

Injury time is to begin awaiting clearance from AHCP.

Only one injury time is recorded for this episode.

Ohio High School Athletic Association-4080 Roselea PlaceColumbus, Ohio 43214Telephone: 614-267-2502; Facsimile – 614-267-1677 www.ohsaa.orgOHSAA CONCUSSION REPORT

NFHS rules and OHSAA policy require a student who exhibits signs, symptoms or behaviorsassociated with concussion to be removed from a contest and not permitted to reentercompetition without written medical authorization from a physician (M.D. or D.O.) or an AthleticTrainer. This form shall serve to document that a student has been removed from a contest in accordance with NFHS and OHSAA rules due to exhibiting signs, symptoms and/or behaviorsconsistent with a concussion. The contest official must complete this form and forward it to the OHSAA within 48 hours after the conclusion of the contest. It is recommended that the officialkeep a copy of this report. In addition, if required by NFHS rule, an appropriate entry shall bemade in the scorebook or other document as prescribed.

Student’sName__________________________________________________________Date_________School Name_________________________________________________________________________Sport ______________________________Level of Contest (Circle One) 7th 8th 9th JV VarsityOfficial’s Name ____________________________________________OHSAA Permit # ___________Comments:

MEDICAL AUTHORIZATION TO RETURN TO PLAY WHEN A STUDENT HAS NOT RECEIVED A CONCUSSIONI, ______________________________________________________, M.D., D.O. or A.T. have examined the following student,___________________________________________ from _______________________________High School/7-8th grade school, whowas removed from a ____________(sport) contest at the _______level (V, JV, 9th, 7-8th) due to exhibition of signs/symptoms/behaviorsconsistent with a concussion. I have examined this student and determined that, based on current examination, he/she has notreceived a concussion and is cleared to reenter the competition today.Signature of Medical Professional ______________________________________________________Date: ____________________PRESENT THIS FORM TO THE HEAD CONTEST OFFICIAL WHO WILL COPY AND RETURN TO OHSAA: ATTENTION BRANDY YOUNG----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Tear at broken line)Ohio High School Athletic Association- 4080 Roselea Place, Columbus, Ohio 43214-Telephone: 614-267-2502; Facsimile – 614-267-1677-www.ohsaa.org MEDICAL AUTHORIZATION TO RETURN TO PLAY WHEN A STUDENT HAS NOT RECEIVED A CONCUSSIONI, ______________________________________________________, M.D., D.O. or A.T. have examined thefollowing student, ___________________________________________ from _______________________________High School/7-8th grade school, who was removed from a ____________(sport) contest at the _______level (V, JV, 9th, 7-8th) due to exhibition ofsigns/symptoms/behaviors consistent with a concussion. I have examined this student and determined that, based on current examination, he/she has not received a concussion and is cleared to reenter thecompetition today.Signature of Medical Professional ______________________________________________________Date: ____________________PRESENT THIS FORM TO THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR OR HEAD COACH Note: The school must

PRESENT THIS FORM TO THE HEAD CONTEST OFFICIAL WHO WILL COPY AND RETURN TO OHSAA: ATTENTION BRANDY YOUNGPRESENT THIS FORM TO THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR OR HEAD COACH Note: The school must retain this form for seven years after the student’s 18th birthday.

• Loses consciousness• Appears dazed or stunned• Is confused about assignment• Is unsure of match, score or opponent• Moves clumsily• Answers questions slowly• Cannot recall events prior to hit

Observation by Official

• Headache• Nausea• Balance problems or dizziness• Double or fuzzy vision• Feeling sluggish• Feeling foggy or groggy• Concentration or memory problems

• Confusion

Symptoms by wrestler

Quick performance exam1. Stand and close eyes.

2. Eyes open stand on one leg and tilt head back.

If you feel in any uncomfortable, remember it is the schools responsibility to have an AHCP.

You are there to officiate not diagnose.

Your welfare is also at risk.

Thank you