WHAT IS A CONCUSSION- A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. The effects of a concussion can be serious!

COMMON SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS- Concussive signs and symptoms include but are not limited to: headache, nausea/vomiting, dizziness, blurry vision, ringing in the ears, balance problems, sensitivity to light and/or noise, feeling sluggish, hazy, dazed, foggy, confusion, difficulty focusing or concentrating, memory problems, difficulty recalling events prior to or after injury, mood or personality change, and/or loss of consciousness. Signs and symptoms of concussion generally show up soon after the injury, however, some symptoms may not show up for hours or days.

WHAT TO DO: If there is any concern at all that an athlete could have a concussion, the athlete must be removed from all activity immediately and cannot return to activity until medical documentation from a physician (MD or DO), nurse practitioner (NP), or physician assistant (PA-C) is brought to the head coach clearing the athlete to return to activity. It is also the head coach's responsibility to notify the appropriate league commissioner of the suspected concussion and then provide the clearance note prior to the athlete returning to baseball or other AAI activity.

LINKS for more information:

https://www.cdc.gov/headsup/index.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5hlm3FRFYU&app=desktop

https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/142/6/e20183074

https://www.nata.org/sites/default/files/concussion-infographic-handout.pdf