• There’s no doubt about it: sports are a great way for teens to stay healthy while learning important team-building skills. But there are risks to pushing the limits of speed, strength and endurance. And athletes who push the limits sometimes don’t recognize their own limitations—especially when they’ve had a concussion. 

    That’s where you come in. It’s up to you, as a coach, to help recognize and make the call to pull an athlete off of the field, ice, court, or track if you think she/he might have a concussion. Playing with a concussion can lead to long-term problems. It can even be fatal. 

    To help you properly identify and respond to a concussion, CDC, in partnership with leading experts and organizations, developed the HEADS UP: Concussion in School Sports initiative and materials. 

    So as you’re building your concussion game plan, make sure to check these boxes: 

    The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) teamed up with CDC’s HEADS UP to educate coaches, officials, parents and students on the importance of proper concussion recognition and management in high school sports. 

    Learn the impact of sports-related concussion on athletes, how to recognize a suspected concussion, and protocols to manage a suspected concussion with steps to help players return to play safely after a concussion.   

    Each state’s requirements for concussion management are included as part of the course. 

    Note: This course is hosted on the NFHS’s web site.