LCB Concussion Policy

Concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head which causes the brain to move rapidly in the skull and can change the way the brain normally works. Concussions can also occur from a fall or blow to the body that causes the head and brain to move quickly back and forth.  Athletes who continue to participate in an athletic activity while suffering from a concussion or the symptoms from an injury to the head are at even greater risk for significant injury to the brain. Suffering another concussion before completely recovering from the first one can lead to prolonged recovery or even severe brain swelling, which can have devastating and even fatal consequences.

Although concussions are an uncommon injury in baseball, they can happen. Participation in baseball can result in serious injuries, including concussions, and the use of protective equipment does not prevent injuries in every circumstance.

It is therefore the policy of Lakeland City Baseball to:

·    Promote awareness of concussions and related traumatic brain injuries through education and training.    

·    Distribute prior to each season educational materials regarding concussions to the parents or guardians of each player, including copies of this policy.

·    Require LCB managers, coaches, Team Moms, umpires, members of its board of directors and all general volunteers complete the Center for Disease Control’s “Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports” training, which emphasizes prevention, recognition and response to a concussion.

·    Require the parent or guardian to acknowledge the availability of applicable Concussion related information on the Lakeland City Baseball website.

In addition, the following steps will be taken should an LCB player sustain, or is suspected of sustaining, an injury to the head while participating in any LCB-sanctioned game, practice or event:

·    He or she will be immediately removed from the game, practice or event if showing signs and symptoms of concussion, no matter how mild the injury seemed nor how quickly symptoms may have cleared.

·    He or she may only return to LCB-sanctioned games or practices when a parent or guardian provides to the league a signed statement from an authorized health care provider indicating the child is medically cleared to participate in baseball-related activities; that he or she no longer exhibits signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with concussion or other head injury, and the date on which the player may return to participation.

IF IN DOUBT, SIT 'EM OUT!

IT'S BETTER TO MISS ONE GAME
THAN THE WHOLE SEASON