FOR YOUR INFORMATION:
105 CMR: Department of Public Health - 201.007 (E) Training Program states: "Game officials shall complete one of the training programs approved by the Department as specified on the Department's website annually and shall provide independent verification of completion of the training program to schools and school districts upon request."
MIAA Handbook concussion rules state:
56.2 Each school's medical personnel/staff is responsible for the members of that team. These individuals annually must have taken, and been certified in, the NFHS on-line Coincussion Course or other recognized education program. In the event of injury, that medical person/staff will make the final judgement as to whether a student-athlete may return to play. ... His/her judgement will be final. Physical disqualification by the medical person renders the student ineligible. the penalty for playing an ineligible student is forfeiture.
56.4 any student athlete who exhibits signs, symptoms, or behaviours consistent with a concussion shall be immediately removed from the practice or competition and must not return to practice or competition that day, and further shall not return to play until cleared (in writing to the AD) by an appropriate health-care professional (as determined by the DPH). whenever it is decided to disqualify a student-athlete from further participation for a suspected concussion or other injury, the person making that decision must communicate about this matter with the injured athlete's coach and athletic director in a timely fashion.
FREE AND CREDIBLE CONCUSSION MATERIALS/RESOURCES FOR ADMINISTRATORS, COACHES, PARENTS AND STUDENT-ATHLETES:
National Federation: (www.nfhslearn.com)
-- free on-line concussion course
--Concussions - NFHS Sports Medicine Handbook
Centers for Disease Control: (www.cdc.gov/concussion)
-- Facts About Concussion and Brain Injury: Where To Get Help
--Heads Up: Brain Injury In Your Practice Initiative
--Heads Up: Concussion in High School Sports Initiative
--Heads Up: Concussion in Youth sports Initiative
--Help Seniors Live Better, Longer: Prevent Brain Injury Initiative
Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts: (www.biama.org)
--Sport Concussion Cards
--DVD's for athletes, coaches, parents (excellent resource for pre-season meetings)
Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association: (www.miaa.net)
--Concussion Information Resource Page
Massachusetts Medical Society: (www.massmed.org)
--concussion: A Coaches Guide for Sideline Evaluation (Concussion Education Brochure)