District 115 Approves Concussion Rules for Student Athletes

is following in the footsteps of thousands of other school districts by adopting new guidelines for student athletes who received concussions.

“This one is getting the most traction nationally,” said Superintendent Scott Wakeley during Monday’s school board meeting. “Even some of the crime dramas this week are talking about the effects of concussions. Even though it’s simulated in drama television, it’s a real issue, particularly with football.”

Earlier this year, the Illinois High School Association Board of Directors approved a policy that states: “athletes cannot return to play or practice until they are evaluated by and receive written clearance from a licensed health care provider.”

The policy comes as a result of extensive work by the IHSA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee.

“This is an important policy for the health and safety of high school student-athletes in Illinois,” said IHSA Associate Executive Director and Sports Medicine Chair Kurt Gibson in a press release. “The current concussion policy language only indicates what must be done for a student-athlete to return to a contest after being removed for a concussion or suspected concussion on the day of the contest. The new policy clarifies the action that must be taken for a student-athlete to return to play in the days, weeks or months that follow after they are diagnosed to have suffered a concussion.”

District 115 already has several safeguards in place, “so this isn’t new for us,” Wakeley said.

“But we’re looking at how we can do this more efficiently, and not just with athletes but for anyone,” he said. “This isn’t just focused on football players or athletes, but it broadens to even those kids who fall off the playground and bump their heads.”