Valley View Follows State, Adopts Sports Safety Policies

The school year is in full tow. And that means fall sports are beginning their regular season schedules. Winter sports practices are soon to follow.

And thanks to state mandate, has adopted two new policies that will make student athletes safer during their time on the playing field.

Beginning this school year, the district will have to medically clear any player who has signs or symptoms of a concussion to resume play and secure soccer goalposts to the ground.

From the new concussion policy:

Any athlete in a sport who exhibits signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion (such as loss of consciousness, headache, dizziness, confusion, and/or balance problems) shall be immediately removed from the game or practice in which he or she is playing and shall not return to play on the day of the contest until cleared by an appropriate health care professional.

The policy identifies a licensed physician or a athletic trainer as a professional.

Further, the policy requires a concussion information sheet, created by the Illinois High School Association, will be issued to all high school athletes and their parents or guardians, which must be signed and returned before a player can participate in a game or practice.

According to a Chicago Tribune report, Illinois was the 28th state to adopt concussion laws, standards that are backed in national campaigns by brain injury advocacy groups, pediatricians and a public that has seen a number of retired star athletes — including former Chicago Bear Dave Duerson — suffer untimely deaths linked to brain trauma.

To read the full policy, click HERE.

Securing goalposts to the ground stems from an incident where a 6-year-old student—not from Valley View—died when a goalpost fell on his head.

From the policy:

Prior to the commencement of the soccer season each year, the District will place and secure Movable Soccer Goals, to the extent that they are used, on its Property in accordance with the Safety Guidelines.

The district is also required to inspect the goalpost to verify that they are properly secured and document each inspection.

To read the full policy, click HERE.

Both policies took effect Aug. 2.