Bradford Minor Baseball Association (BMBA)

Protocol for Reporting Injuries & Suspected Concussions

 

Overview of Coach's Responsibility

If anyone is injured at a game or practice, the coach must:
1. Electronically submit the BMBA Injury Report Form located on our website;
2. Contact the parent/guardian immediately and confirm they are aware of the injury; and
3. Email their BMBA division Convenor to alert them of the injury and report submission.

If a concussion is SUSPECTED, the coach must also:
1. Remove the child from play immediately; and
2. Not allow the child to return to play unless the coach receives positive written confirmation from BMBA Division Convenor or an onsite licensed healthcare professional.
 

What to Report:  

Any incident that causes any player, manager, coach, umpire, volunteer or spectator to receive medical treatment and/or first aid, including on-field treatments, such as the evaluation and diagnosis of the injury, its severity and periods of rest, must be reported by team coaches to BMBA within 48 hours of the incident.

How to Make the Report:

All incidents must be reported by completing and electronically submitting the BMBA Injury Report Form located on our website, HERE.  

Reports should include:

1. Information about the person involved;
2. Date, time, and location of the incident;
3. As detailed a description of the incident as possible;
4. Preliminary estimate of the extent of  the injuries; and 
5. Name and phone number of the person reporting the incident.

Who to Notify:

In addition to the online form, incidents must be reported immediately by email or phone to the parent/guardian and the BMBA division Convenor.

WHAT SHOULD A COACH DO IF A CONCUSSION IS SUSPECTED?

No matter whether the athlete is a key member of the team or the game is about to end, an athlete with a suspected concussion should be immediately removed from play. 

To help you know how to respond, follow this four step action plan:
1. REMOVE THE ATHLETE FROM PLAY. 
Look for signs and symptoms of a concussion if your athlete has experienced a bump or blow to the head or body. 
When in doubt, sit them out!
2. ENSURE THAT THE ATHLETE IS EVALUATED BY AN APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL. 
Do not try to judge the severity of the injury yourself. 
Health care professionals have a number of methods that they can use to assess the severity of concussions. 
As a coach, recording the following information can help health care professionals in assessing the athlete after the injury:
a. Cause of the injury and force of the hit or blow to the head or body.
b. Any loss of consciousness (passed out/knocked out) and if so, for how long.
c. Any memory loss immediately following the injury.
d. Any seizures immediately following the injury.
e. Number of previous concussions (if any).
3. INFORM THE ATHLETE’S PARENTS OR GUARDIANS. 
Let them know about the possible concussion. 
Tell parents to monitor the athlete for signs or symptoms that appear or get worse once the athlete is at home or returns to
school.
4. KEEP THE ATHLETE OUT OF PLAY. 
An athlete should be removed from play the day of the injury and until an appropriate health care professional says they are
symptom-free and it’s OK to return to play. 
After you remove an athlete with a suspected concussion from practice or play, the decision about returning to practice or
play is a medical decision.

If a suspected concussion has been identified, then the injured person or their parents/guardians must provide the BMBA division Convenor with the following before being allowed to return to play (whether practices or games):
1. No Concussion:
A note from a medical professional indicating that no concussion was suffered.
2. Concussion:
A note from a medical professional indicating that the injured person is cleared to return to play.