Concussions are a type of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) caused by 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. Most concussions do NOT involve loss of consciousness, and children are more susceptible to concussions than adults. Recognition and proper response to concussions when they first occur can help prevent further injury or even death. Concussions can occur in any sport, including basketball. WBA requires that all volunteer coaches become familiar with the signs of concussion and the proper response to head injury during a game or practice.
WBA requires the following from administrators, coaches and parents:
All coaches must attest to having completed the training to the WBA security officer (in writing or by email). No volunteer will be allowed to coach until they have completed and attested to having completed the training module.
All coaches will distribute the CDC’s Parents/Athletes Information Sheet to one parent of each player. This information sheet can be found by clicking here.
One coach per team must carry a copy of the “CDC clipboard sheet” to all team activities (practices and games). A copy of the sheet can be from the CDC website by clicking here.
As outlined in the above resources, coaches must immediately remove youth athletes from play they think they may have sustained a concussion.
Parents of players diagnosed with a concussion during the season, either during WBA activities or outside activities, must notify the head coach in writing or by email.
Players who have sustained a concussion cannot participate in any team activities until a documentation is received from a physician clearing the player for reinstatement.
Coaches must notify the WBA Executive Board if any player sustains a concussion during WBA activities and again when that player is cleared to resume participation.
Note: The use of mouth guards by all players is highly encouraged by the WBA. While it has not been determined that mouth guards prevent concussion in youth athletes, the prevention of dental and facial injury has been well documented.
