Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 105 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH › Title 105 CMR 201.000 - Head Injuries And Concussions In Extracurricular Athletic Activities › Section 201.010 - Exclusion from Play

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(A) Any student,
			 who during a practice or competition, sustains a head injury or suspected
			 concussion, or exhibits signs and symptoms of a concussion, or loses
			 consciousness, even briefly, shall be removed from the practice or competition
			 immediately and may not return to the practice or competition that
			 day.
(B) The student shall not
			 return to practice or competition unless and until the student provides medical
			 clearance and authorization as specified in
			 105 CMR
			 201.011.
(C) The coach shall communicate the nature of
			 the injury directly to the parent in person or by phone immediately after the
			 practice or competition in which a student has been removed from play for a
			 head injury, suspected concussion, signs and symptoms of a concussion, or loss
			 of consciousness. The coach also must provide this information to the parent in
			 writing, whether paper or electronic format, by the end of the next business
			 day.
(D) The coach or his or her
			 designee shall communicate, by the end of the next business day, with the
			 Athletic Director and school nurse that the student has been removed from
			 practice or competition for a head injury, suspected concussion, signs and
			 symptoms of a concussion, or loss of consciousness.
(E) Each student who is removed from practice
			 or competition and subsequently diagnosed with a concussion shall have a
			 written graduated reentry plan for return to full academic and extracurricular
			 athletic activities.
(1) The plan shall be
			 developed by the student's teachers, the student's guidance counselor, school
			 nurse, licensed athletic trainer if on staff, neuropsychologist if available or
			 involved, parent, members of the building-based student support and assistance
			 team or individualized education program team as appropriate and in
			 consultation with the student's primary care provider or the physician who made
			 the diagnosis or who is managing the student's recovery.
(2) The written plan shall include
			 instructions for students, parents and school personnel, addressing but not be
			 limited to:
(a) Physical and cognitive rest as
			 appropriate;
(b) Graduated return
			 to extracurricular athletic activities and classroom studies as appropriate,
			 including accommodations or modifications as needed;
(c) Estimated time intervals for resumption
			 of activities;
(d) Frequency of
			 assessments, as appropriate, by the school nurse, school physician, team
			 physician, licensed athletic trainer if on staff, or neuropsychologist if
			 available until full return to classroom activities and extracurricular
			 athletic activities are authorized; and
(e) A plan for communication and coordination
			 between and among school personnel and between the school, the parent, and the
			 student's primary care provider or the physician who made the diagnosis or who
			 is managing the student's recovery.
(3) The student diagnosed with a concussion
			 must be completely symptom free at rest in order to begin graduated reentry to
			 extracurricular athletic activities. The student must be symptom free at rest,
			 during exertion, and with cognitive activity in order to complete the graduated
			 re-entry plan and be medically cleared to play under
			 105 CMR
			 201.011.