Return to Play Guidelines
Return-to-play guidelines are established to ensure the safety of student athletes and to establish a consistent standard for health care in McLean School’s athletic program. Student athletes can suffer mild to severe athletic injuries, which may require medical attention either from McLean School’s athletic trainer, team physician or other physician, or from another health care provider (i.e., physical therapist, emergency care facility). When the athlete is ready to return to sport participation, documentation from the health care provider stating that the athlete’s injury has been satisfactorily resolved is required.
Injured student athletes who…
- sustain an concussion (assessed by the certified athletic trainer)*
- see a physician for an injury (i.e., for a fracture or severe sprain),
- get an x-ray or other diagnostic test, -a re transported from the school by ambulance,
- report to the athletic training room or health room with a moderate injury,*
…must be cleared by a physician (* or the certified athletic trainer) before returning to participation. In situations were an athlete sustains a concussion, the athlete will generally require a mandatory rest period of one week. The athlete may return to play when clearance from a physician is granted AND after the athletic trainer conducts neurological and physical functional testing. The athlete must be symptom free to return to activity.
“Clearance” from a physician requires a doctor’s note. If a physician does not see the athlete, the athletic trainer will determine through thorough evaluation and functional testing when the athlete may return to play.
Communication with the athlete’s parents and coaches regarding the status of the athlete’s injury must also occur before the athlete is allowed to return to any sport participation—whether it be partial or full.