A policy concerning student athlete head injuries and concussions was unanimously passed during Monday night's D99 meeting.

The policy, which closely mimics protocols already laid out by the Illinois High School Association, provides rules for how to handle suspected head injuries, such as prohibiting an athelete from returning to a game until cleared by a physician or certified athletic trainer working in conjuction with a physician.

The policy reads:

Student Athlete Concussions and Head Injuries 7.305

The Superintendent or designee shall develop and implement a program to manage concussions and head injuries suffered by student athletes. The program shall:

1. Comply with the concussion protocols, policies, and by-laws of the Illinois High School Association, including its Protocol for NFHS Concussion Playing Rules and its Return to Play Policy and require that:
    a. A student athlete who exhibits signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion in a practice or game shall be removed from participation or competition at that time. If a physician coach, athletic trainer, athlete or parent determines it may be unsafe for an athlete to participate, the athlete will be removed from the contest or practice.
    b. A student athlete who has been removed from an interscholastic contest or practice for a possible concussion or head injury may not return to that contest unless cleared to do so by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches in Illinois or a certified athletic trainer working in conjunction with a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches in Illinois.
    c. The coach or athletic trainer immediately notifies the parent/guardian and school nurse of a student who exhibits symptoms consistent with that of a concussion.
    d. If not cleared to return to that contest, a student athlete may not return to play or practice until the student athlete has provided the school Athletic Director with written clearance from a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches in Illinois or a certified athletic trainer working in conjunction with a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches in Illinois.

2. Student athletes and their parents/guardians are informed about this policy in the Agreement to Participate or other written instrument that a student athlete and his or her parent/guardian must sign before the student is allowed to participate in a practice or interscholastic competition.

3. Coaches, student athletes and their parents/guardians are provided with educational materials from the Illinois High School Association regarding the nature and risk of concussions and head injuries, including the risks inherent in continuing to play after a concussion or head injury.