Concussion Management & Return-to-Play

 The health and safety of our players is Hilltopper Lacrosse’s highest priority. Hilltopper Lacrosse follows the principles of the CDC HEADS UP program for recognizing and responding to suspected concussions and managing an athlete’s safe return to play.

Any player who experiences a blow or jolt to the head or body and shows signs or symptoms of a concussion, reports symptoms consistent with a concussion, or is suspected of having sustained a concussion will be immediately removed from play.

A player with a suspected concussion:

• Will not return to practice or competition on the same day, even if symptoms appear to improve.
• Must be evaluated by an appropriate licensed medical professional experienced in the evaluation and management of concussions.
• May not return to Hilltopper Lacrosse activities until written medical clearance has been provided.
• Must follow any gradual return-to-play progression directed by the player’s medical professional and consistent with CDC HEADS UP guidance.

Concussion symptoms can occur immediately or develop hours or days after an injury. Signs and symptoms may include:

• Headache or pressure in the head
• Dizziness or balance problems
• Nausea or vomiting
• Blurred or double vision
• Sensitivity to light or noise
• Confusion, difficulty concentrating, or memory problems
• Appearing dazed, stunned, or unusually forgetful
• Moving clumsily or answering questions slowly
• Changes in mood, behavior, or personality
• Feeling sluggish, foggy, groggy, or simply “not right”
• Loss of consciousness, even briefly

A player does not need to lose consciousness to have sustained a concussion.

If a player displays serious or worsening symptoms—including repeated vomiting, seizures, increasing confusion, unusual behavior, slurred speech, weakness or numbness, inability to wake, worsening headache, or loss of consciousness—coaches and families should treat the situation as a medical emergency and seek immediate emergency medical attention.

Returning to lacrosse after a concussion should be a gradual, medically supervised process—not a same-day decision.

Once written medical clearance has been received, the player should progress through the return-to-play stages recommended by the player’s healthcare provider. If concussion symptoms return at any stage, the player must stop activity and the parent or guardian should consult the player’s healthcare provider before progressing.

No game, practice, tournament, or team activity is more important than a player’s health. 

When in doubt, we sit them out.

For additional concussion education, signs and symptoms, and return-to-sports guidance, visit the 

CDC HEADS UP program:

https://www.cdc.gov/heads-up/