Interscholastic Athletics
All interscholastic activities shall be conducted according to the rules established by the Virginia High School League (VHSL). To be eligible to participate in VHSL activities, students must meet the following criteria:
1. Meet all of the requirements for grade point average and pass all of the specified number
of classes, as required by the VHSL;
2. Meet all requirements imposed by the Virginia Board of Education; and
3. Meet any higher academic standard set by a coach or a sponsor in concurrence with the principal; such standard must be set forth in writing for students at least one (1) semester in advance of implementation.
Each high school shall submit annually a VHSL membership application for approval by the division superintendent and the School Board.
Concussions
GENERALLY
The Montgomery County School Board is committed to ensuring that any student who sustains a head injury and/or is suspected of sustaining a concussion is properly diagnosed, given adequate time to heal, and is comprehensively supported until he or she is symptom free. Concussion management is based on physical and cognitive rest until symptoms resolve, followed by a return to play protocol after medical clearance. The division superintendent is authorized to develop regulations for the implementation of this policy, consistent with applicable law (the “Concussion Regulation”).
DEFINITIONS
Appropriate Licensed Health Care Provider: A physician, physician’s assistant, osteopath or athletic trainer licensed by the Virginia Board of Medicine; a neuropsychologist licensed by the Board of Psychology; or a nurse practitioner licensed by the Virginia State Board of Nursing.
Return to Play: Participation in a non-medically supervised practice or athletic competition.
REQUIREMENTS
In order to participate in any extracurricular athletic activity, each student athlete and the student athlete’s parent or guardian shall annually review information on concussions provided by the school division.
After reviewing the material describing the short and long term health effects of concussions, each student athlete and the student athlete’s parent or guardian shall sign a statement acknowledging receipt, review and understanding of such information.
Any student suspected of sustaining a head injury or concussion shall immediately be removed from the activity and shall not return to play that same day and until (a) evaluated by an appropriate licensed health care provider, and (b) being in receipt of written clearance to return to play from such licensed health care provider. The Concussion Regulation shall include a protocol for student athletes to return to play that is consistent with that recommended by the Virginia Board of Education Guidelines regarding Concussions in Student-Athletes (the “Guidelines”), and shall specifically prohibit any member of a school athletic team from participating in any athletic event or practice the same day he or she is injured when he or she (a) exhibits signs, symptoms or behaviors attributable to a concussion; or (b) has been diagnosed with a concussion. Further, the protocol shall include provisions for the student athlete’s return to athletic participation in the days after he or she experiences a concussion consistent with such Guidelines.
Coaches will be concussion certified no later than the first day of their respective seasons. The Concussion Regulation shall prescribe the training required of all coaches and athletic directors meeting the objectives provided in and utilizing training materials and schedules endorsed by the Guidelines.
The Concussion Regulation shall include a provision that, beginning at a time specified by the division superintendent and his or her staff, all seventh grade and older athletes will be administered a baseline test, such as the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT2), prior to the first athletic practice of any season in which each athlete participates, by a qualified staff member. The Concussion Regulation shall further provide that such tests will be given in the seventh, ninth and eleventh grades thereafter and to any newly enrolled student athlete.
High school athletic trainers and coaches in the Montgomery County Public Schools will use standardized measurement tools to assess all head injuries at high school athletic events, as further outlined in the Concussion Regulation. High school athletic trainers may refer the student athlete back to the student’s evaluating physician at any point during the Return to Play period, as further outlined in the Concussion Regulation.
Montgomery County Public Schools will make every effort to provide materials related to concussion management to organizations sponsoring athletic activities for student athletes on school property on the Montgomery County Public Schools website.
A concussion policy team that includes, at a minimum, a school administrator, athletic administrator, appropriate licensed health care provider, coach, parent, and student shall refine and review this policy and the Concussion Regulation on an annual basis.
LEGAL REFERENCE: Code of
Adopted: April 2004, June 2010
Revised: June 2011