The Big 12 Conference, one of the most important conferences in Division I college athletics, has instituted a new concussion policy. The Big 12 Conference includes college athletics powerhouses such as the University of Texas, the University of Oklahoma and Baylor University. There are two pieces to the policy which strike as particularly important. First, the new policy affords university medical staff position to make the sole and incontrovertible decision as to whether or not an injured player should be allowed to return to play while also removing from the teams’ coaches purview any form of employer’s authority over the medical staff. This allows medical staff to make important medical decisions in an environment absent any fear of retribution from coaches. Second, it states that any player diagnosed with a concussion cannot return to play or practice the day that that concussion is suffered. This will hopefully eliminate dangers presented by the previous practice of returning concussed players back into games where they then face risk of suffering a more serious subsequent brain injury. Remember, concussion is just another word for brain injury. This truly is a step in the right direction when it comes to the reduction of brain injuries experienced in the world of college athletics and the improved treatment of those injuries suffered. The link below will take you to the Big 12 press release covering this new concussion policy:
http://www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10410&ATCLID=209895746
Learn about the Moody Neurorehabilitation Institute’s brain injury treatment services.
