Health and Safety
The health and safety of our players is of utmost importance to the Colonial Soccer Club. Health awareness for player fitness and sports injuries is the start to creating a safer environment for our children. As Members of the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association (EPYSA), our Club has access to various resources to research physical fitness and sports related injuries through the CDC and other health organizations.
The Board encourages all parents, legal guardians, players and coaches to click the link below to educate themselves and better understand issues on physical fitness, player hydration and nourishment, rest to avoid overuse, preventing sports injuries, identifying signs and symptoms for sports injuries and the need to obtain treatment to resolve these injuries before returning to sports related activities. There are online videos that discuss these issues as well in the EPYSA resource website.
It is important for athletes, parents, legal guardians and coach’s to communicate health issues with each other.
The Club policy and protocol for general sports injuries is as follows:
Any complaint received from an athlete or symptoms/signs observed by a parent, legal guardian or coach must be discussed between the parties.
A player, parent or legal guardian must notify a coach if that player suffered an injury or is diagnosed with an injury or illness that limits soccer activity.
If there is any concern or issue of an injury, the Club policy is, “If in doubt, sit them out”.
If a parent requests their child be held out of practice or competition, the coach must honor that parent’s or legal guardian’s request.
If a coach determines a player should sit, the parents and legal guardians must honor the coaches’ decision.
If a player is diagnosed with an injury, the player must provide a medical release and return to play report from a medical doctor before resuming any soccer activities.
The medical doctor clearance directives must be followed whether the directive involves limited activity, other modified return status or unlimited, full contact, game playing release.
The general rule is to err on the side of caution, “It’s better to miss a game than a season”!
Concussions
The issue of concussions in sports is of particular importance today. The Board encourages all parents, legal guardians, players and coaches to click the link below to educate themselves and better understand concussion related issues, identify signs and symptoms for concussions, ways to prevent concussions and the need to rest and obtain treatment to resolve these injuries before returning to school and sports related activities.
The problem with concussions is that it is a difficult injury to accurately diagnose. However, as parents, legal guardians, athletes and coaches, we can educate ourselves on recognizing the many signs and symptoms of concussion related injuries. A concussion is a brain injury that can affect a person’s ability to perform day to day activities. Light sensitivity, balance, appetite, sleep, reaction time, concentration and school work may be affected. Some symptoms may appear immediately, but some may take an hour or a day to manifest.
To assist medical personnel in diagnosing a concussion, baseline testing is a valuable tool. Those in public school looking to participate in sports activities are provided baseline testing through the school prior to engaging in sports. Those players attending private school or who have not reached the 7th grade are encouraged to contact their personal doctor and arrange for concussion baseline testing.
The Club policy and protocol for concussions is as follows:
If a player receives a blow to the head in practice or a game, the coach shall remove the player from the game and check for concussion related symptoms.
If a player complains of concussion related symptoms, the coach shall remove the player from the game and check for ongoing concussion symptoms before returning to the game or practice.
If there is any concern or issue of an injury, the Club policy is, “If in doubt, sit them out”.
If the coach detects concussion related symptoms, the player must sit for the remainder of the game or practice.
If a parent or guardian determines a player must sit for the remainder of a game or practice, the coach and player must honor the parent’s decision.
If a player has been diagnosed with a concussion, the player must provide a medical release and return to play report from a medical doctor before resuming soccer activities.
The medical doctor directives must be followed whether the directive involves limited activity, other modified return status or unlimited, full contact, game playing release.
The general rule is to err on the side of caution, “It’s better to miss a game than a season”!
Colonial Soccer Club Parent/Player Concussion Awareness Statement
Parent Child (Both parent and child must initial)
____ ____ I read and reviewed the attached “Heads Up to Schools: Know Your Concussion ABCs” pamphlet from the CDC.
____ ____ I read and reviewed the attached “Concussion A Must Read for Young Athletes” pamphlet from the CDC.
____ ____ I read and reviewed the attached “Facts about Concussion and Brain Injury” pamphlet from the CDC.
____ ____ I read and reviewed the attached “Heads Up Concussion A Fact Sheet for Athletes” pamphlet from the CDC.
____ ____ I read and reviewed the attached “Danger Signs” pamphlet from the CDC.
____ ____ I read and completed the attached “Heads Up Concussion in Youth Sports, A Quiz for Coaches, Athletes and Parents” quiz from the CDC.
____ ____ I logged into the EPYSA website and am aware of the various resources available for concussion related information as well as physical fitness, player hydration and nourishment, rest to avoid overuse, preventing sports injuries, identifying signs and symptoms for other sports injuries and the need to obtain treatment to resolve these injuries before returning to sports related activities.
____ ____ I understand it is my responsibility to report all injuries and illnesses to my coach.
____ ____ I understand a concussion is a brain injury and I am responsible for reporting to my coach an injury to myself or a suspected injury to a teammate.
____ ____ I understand a concussion can affect my ability to perform routine daily activities, including physical and mental abilities.
____ ____ I understand the need for the brain to heal after a concussion and that in rare cases, a repeat concussion can result in permanent brain damage.
____ ____ I will honor any coaches decision to sit it out for a suspected injury and understand it is better to miss a game than a season.
_____________________ ____________________ ________
Parent signature Parent printed name Date
_____________________ ____________________ ________
Player signature Player printed name Date
Please see the link below at CDC.gov regarding concussion awareness:
http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/HeadsUp/youth.html
Please see the link below at Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association:
