Concussion Training - Mandatory for all Intramural Coaches
In accordance with Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer policy, all coaches (intramural and travel) are required to complete concussion training. PYSA is also required to make concussion information available to all players and parents. While parents are not required to take the training, it is very helpful to understand the symptoms of a concussion to better protect your child.
There are two online training courses that a coach may take that will meet this requirement. Both of these courses are free courses and will provide you a certificate that you have taken the course at the completion of the course.
1) The Center for Disease Control (CDC) Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports is a free, online course available to coaches, parents, and others helping to keep athletes safe from concussion. It features interviews with leading experts, dynamic graphics and interactive exercises, and compelling storytelling to help you recognize a concussion and know how to respond if you think that your athlete might have a concussion. Once you complete the training and quiz, you can print out a certificate, making it easy to show your league or school you are ready for the season.
2) The National Federation of State High School Associations Concussion in Sports - What You Need To Know. Sports-related concussion in high school sports can be serious or even life-threatening situations if not managed correctly. The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have teamed up to provide information and resources to help educate coaches, officials, parents and students on the importance of proper concussion recognition and management in high school sports. Mick Koester M.D., ATC, Chair of the NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee and Director of the Slocum Sports Concussion in Eugene, Oregon takes you through this course. In this course you will understand the impact sports-related concussion can have on your players, how to recognize a suspected concussion, the proper protocols to manage a suspected concussion, and steps to help your player return to play safely after experiencing a concussion.
If you do not complete the training, you will not be allowed to coach. Travel coaches and assistants are exempt because they had to take the class to get their team’s player passes already. All other coaches are expected to complete this training by June 5th. Games will be cancelled for coaches that do not complete this on time and will not be made up.
Please complete one of the above training sessions and return a copy of your certificate to PYSA Intramural Coordinator, Kourtney Shafer, [email protected]
*Revised January 30th. 2023