JLYSSL Concussion Policy
The League authorizes its referees to remove a player from a match when the referee is concerned that a concussion has been sustained, and once removed the player may not return to the match. The league recommends that all coaches, parents, players, and officials take sanctioned online training in concussion awareness, and that coaches teach ball control to their players to reduce the incidence of concussions.
Concussions
A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury that causes dysfunction of the brain and can be caused by a direct blow to the head, a jolt to the body, or a rapid deceleration/acceleration of the brain within the skull. The brain is fairly soft and squishy in consistency but does not do well when it is hit against unforgiving bones that make up the head. Essentially, the brain is being bruised. Bruise = bleeding. Just like there are different types of bruises from mild to severe there are different levels of brain injuries from mild to significant bleeding of the brain. Only this time it isn’t muscles that need to heal; it’s the circuitry of your brain
New US Soccer Concussion and Heading Policy
HEADING THE BALL
DEALING WITH POTENTIAL HEAD INJURIES
SUBSTITUTIONS
Detailed Discussion Documents for Referees
New US Soccer Concussion and Heading Policy
HEADING THE BALL
- Players of U12 (Rec only), U11, U10, U9 and U8 are prohibited from DELIBERATELY head the ball.
- When a player deliberately heads the ball in a game, an indirect free kick (IDFK) should be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense.
- If the deliberate header occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the infringement occurred.
DEALING WITH POTENTIAL HEAD INJURIES
- Once it is determined that the player might be suffering from “head injuries” or “potential head injuries”, THE PLAYER IS NOT ALLOWED TO RETURN TO PLAY UNLESS THE PLAYER HAS BEEN CLEARED BY A Health Care Professional (HCP).
SUBSTITUTIONS
- If a player suffers a significant blow to the head and is removed from the game to be evaluated for a suspected concussion or head injury, that substitution will not count against a team’s total number of allowed substitutions.
- If the player with the suspected head injury has received clearance from the HCP to return to the game, the player may re-enter at any stoppage of play. The evaluated player must replace the original substitute and will not count as a substitution.
Detailed Discussion Documents for Referees
| norcal_concussion_initiative_and_protocol.pdf |
| iniciativa_conmoción_cerebral_norcal_y_protocolo.pdf |
Symptoms
Everyone is different and symptoms can be very subtle. Being knocked UNCONSCIOUS is not a requirement and a “ding” can very well result in a concussion, especially for young athletes and athletes who have had previous head injuries.
If an athlete is experiencing ANY of these symptoms or just doesn’t seem right, DO NOT LET THEM PLAY.
Athletes who have a suspected concussion should not be given pain relievers to mask symptoms (headaches). In addition, athletes should be supervised hourly for 24-48 hours following a suspected concussion to monitor for worsening symptoms. Do not leave them alone.
- Confusion, foggy/groggy feeling, sluggish
- Dizzy, poor balance
- Sensitivity to noise or light, blurry vision
- Headache, feeling of pressure
- Poor memory: can’t remember what they ate earlier that day, the score of the game, what happened, etc.
- Poor coordination and concentration
- Nausea/vomiting
If an athlete is experiencing ANY of these symptoms or just doesn’t seem right, DO NOT LET THEM PLAY.
Athletes who have a suspected concussion should not be given pain relievers to mask symptoms (headaches). In addition, athletes should be supervised hourly for 24-48 hours following a suspected concussion to monitor for worsening symptoms. Do not leave them alone.
SIGNS OF A MEDICAL EMERGENCY
- HEADACHES THAT WORSEN
- REPEATED VOMITING
- SEVERE NECK PAIN
- LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS OR UNABLE TO BE AWAKENED EASILY
- SEIZURES
- INCREASING IRRITABILITY
- WEAKNESS/NUMBNESS IN ARMS OR LEGS
- UNABLE TO RECOGNIZE FAMILIAR FACES/THINGS
Knee Injuries
ACL Tear
The anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, is a ligament located within the knee joint that helps stabilize the knee. It is commonly injured in sports where athletes twist and turn rapidly. Patients usually develop knee swelling, tenderness and instability. Patients often hear a "pop" when the injury occurs. The ACL usually requires surgical reconstruction, according to the "AAOS Comprehensive Orthopaedic Review".
Meniscal Tear
There are two menisci in the knee: lateral and medial. Either meniscus can tear due to trauma, but the medial meniscus is torn approximately three times more than the lateral meniscus, according to the "Review of Orthopaedics". Meniscal tears can occur from contact or non-contact trauma. Patients usually develop instability, swelling and pain in the knee. Depending upon the type of meniscal tear, patients either can be treated with physical therapy or surgery.
MCL Sprain
The medial collateral ligament, or MCL, is a primary stabilizer for the inside or medial aspect of the knee. The MCL can be injured in three grades according to the "AAOS Comprehensive Orthopaedic Review". A grade 1 injury is a few torn fibers, but there is no change in the ligament integrity. A grade 2 injury is an incomplete ligament tear with knee instability. A grade 3 injury is complete disruption of the MCL fibers resulting in severe laxity of the knee. Patients are usually treated non-operatively with physical therapy, but some do need surgery especially when there is more than one structure injured in the knee.
Patella Dislocation/Subluxation
The patella or knee cap is the bone that sits in front of the knee joint. The patella is stabilized by soft tissue structures. During trauma, the patella can become displaced. Dislocation involves complete displacement of the patella, while subluxation is an incomplete displacement of the patella in relationship to the femoral trochlea where the patella usually sits. Patients may injure the soft tissue structures around the knee including the medial patellofemoral ligament. Patients are initially treated with rest, anti-inflammatory medication and physical therapy. Some patients require surgery to help improve the stability of the patella during knee motion.
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
Patellofemoral pain syndrome or PFPS, is a type of overuse injury due to maltracking of the patella during knee motion that results in chronic pain behind the patella. PFPS is also known as "runner's knee". Patients are initially treated with rest, ice and anti-inflammatory medications. Some patient who fail to improve with physical therapy require surgery.
Patellar Tendinitis
Patellar tendinitis is an overuse injury where there is pain with knee motion due to inflammation of the patellar tendon. Patellar tendinitis, or "jumper's knee", is seen commonly in sports that involve jumping activities. Patients have pain just below the knee cap and difficulty moving the knee due to pain. Patellar tendinitis usually responds well to rest, ice, anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy.
The anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, is a ligament located within the knee joint that helps stabilize the knee. It is commonly injured in sports where athletes twist and turn rapidly. Patients usually develop knee swelling, tenderness and instability. Patients often hear a "pop" when the injury occurs. The ACL usually requires surgical reconstruction, according to the "AAOS Comprehensive Orthopaedic Review".
Meniscal Tear
There are two menisci in the knee: lateral and medial. Either meniscus can tear due to trauma, but the medial meniscus is torn approximately three times more than the lateral meniscus, according to the "Review of Orthopaedics". Meniscal tears can occur from contact or non-contact trauma. Patients usually develop instability, swelling and pain in the knee. Depending upon the type of meniscal tear, patients either can be treated with physical therapy or surgery.
MCL Sprain
The medial collateral ligament, or MCL, is a primary stabilizer for the inside or medial aspect of the knee. The MCL can be injured in three grades according to the "AAOS Comprehensive Orthopaedic Review". A grade 1 injury is a few torn fibers, but there is no change in the ligament integrity. A grade 2 injury is an incomplete ligament tear with knee instability. A grade 3 injury is complete disruption of the MCL fibers resulting in severe laxity of the knee. Patients are usually treated non-operatively with physical therapy, but some do need surgery especially when there is more than one structure injured in the knee.
Patella Dislocation/Subluxation
The patella or knee cap is the bone that sits in front of the knee joint. The patella is stabilized by soft tissue structures. During trauma, the patella can become displaced. Dislocation involves complete displacement of the patella, while subluxation is an incomplete displacement of the patella in relationship to the femoral trochlea where the patella usually sits. Patients may injure the soft tissue structures around the knee including the medial patellofemoral ligament. Patients are initially treated with rest, anti-inflammatory medication and physical therapy. Some patients require surgery to help improve the stability of the patella during knee motion.
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
Patellofemoral pain syndrome or PFPS, is a type of overuse injury due to maltracking of the patella during knee motion that results in chronic pain behind the patella. PFPS is also known as "runner's knee". Patients are initially treated with rest, ice and anti-inflammatory medications. Some patient who fail to improve with physical therapy require surgery.
Patellar Tendinitis
Patellar tendinitis is an overuse injury where there is pain with knee motion due to inflammation of the patellar tendon. Patellar tendinitis, or "jumper's knee", is seen commonly in sports that involve jumping activities. Patients have pain just below the knee cap and difficulty moving the knee due to pain. Patellar tendinitis usually responds well to rest, ice, anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy.
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