Responding to a Concussion and Action Plan for Coaches

Information for Coaches

If you think an athlete has a concussion, implement the HEADS UP Action Plan:

HEADS UP Action Plan

Remove from Play

photo: baseball players on bench Remove the young athlete from play. When it doubt, sit them out!

Seek Medical Attention

photo: girl with head pain talking to a doctor Keep a young athlete with a possible concussion out of play the same day of the injury and until cleared by a health care provider. Do not try to judge the severity of the injury yourself. Only a health care provider should assess a young athlete for a possible concussion. After you remove a young athlete with a possible concussion from practice or play, the decision about return to practice or play is a medical decision that should be made by a health care provider. As a coach, recording the following information can help a health care provider in assessing the young athlete after the injury:

Cause of the injury and force of the hit or blow to the head or body
Any loss of consciousness (passed out/knocked out) and if so, for how long
Any memory loss right after the injury
Any seizures right after the injury
Number of previous concussions (if any)

Inform and Educate Parents

Inform the young athlete’s parent(s) about the possible concussion, and give them the HEADS UP fact sheet for parents. This fact sheet can help parents watch the young athlete for concussion signs or symptoms that may show up or get worse once the young athlete is at home or returns to school.

Materials You Can Give to Parents

Get Written Concussion Care Instructions

photo: doctor writing instructions Ask for written instructions from the young athlete’s health care provider on return to play. These instructions should include information about when they can return to play and what steps you should take to help them safely return to play. Before returning to play an athlete should:

Be back to doing their regular school activities.
Not have any symptoms from the injury when doing normal activities.
Have the green-light from their health care provider to begin the return to play process.

Information for Parents

A child or teen with a concussion needs to be seen by a medical provider. If you think your child or teen has a concussion, contact his or her health care professional.

Remove From Play

Its better to miss one game, than the whole season. If the concussion happens while playing sports, you should also:

Remove the child from play.
Keep the child out of play the day of the injury and until a medical provider, experienced in evaluating for concussion, says he or she is symptom-free and it’s OK to return to play.

Children or teens who return to play too soon—while the brain is still healing—risk a greater chance of having a repeat concussion. Repeat or later concussions can be very serious. They can cause permanent brain damage, affecting your child for a lifetime.

Seek Medical Care

Most kids and teens are treated in the emergency department or in a medical office after a concussion and get to go home. However, when the injury is more serious, your child or teen may need to stay in the hospital overnight.

What to Tell the Medical Provider

Be sure to tell the medical provider if your child or teen is taking medications—prescription, over-the-counter medicines, or "natural remedies." When possible, also write down and share the following information:

Cause of the injury and force of the hit or blow to the head or body
Any loss of consciousness (passed out/knocked out) and if so, for how long
Any memory loss right after the injury
Any seizures right after the injury
Number of previous concussions (if any)

Tests for Concussion & Brain Injury

Your child or teen’s medical provider may do a scan of his or her brain (such as a CT scan) to look for signs of a more serious brain injury. Other tests such as "neuropsychological" or "neurocognitive" tests may also be performed. These tests help assess your child or teen’s learning and memory skills, the ability to pay attention or concentrate, and how quickly he or she can think and solve problems. These tests can help the child’s medical provider identify the effects of the concussion.

Get Written Concussion Care Instructions

Ask for written instructions from the young athlete’s health care provider on return to play. These instructions should include information about when they can return to play and what steps you should take to help them safely return to play. Before returning to play an athlete should:

Be back to doing their regular school activities.
Not have any symptoms from the injury when doing normal activities.
Have the green-light from their health care provider to begin the return to play process.

Baseline Testing

Baseline testing is a pre-season exam conducted by a trained health care professional. Baseline tests are used to assess an athlete’s balance and brain function as well as the presence of any concussion symptoms. Results from baseline tests (or pre-injury tests) can be used and compared to a similar exam conducted by a health care professional during the season if an athlete has a suspected concussion.