Amherst College is committed to ensuring the health and safety of its student-athletes. To this end, and in accordance with NCAA legislation [Division I Constitution 3.2.4.18; Division II Constitution 3.3.4.16; Division III Constitution 3.2.4.16], Amherst College has adopted the following Concussion Safety Protocol for all student-athletes. This protocol establishes and/or identifies: (1) a sport-related concussion definition; (2) concussion safety protocol personnel; (3) independent medical care; (4) preseason education; (5) pre-participation assessment; (6) recognition and diagnosis of concussion; (7) concussion management; (8) return to activity, including both return-to-learn and return-to-play; (9) reducing exposure to head trauma; and (10) written certificate of compliance signed by the athletics health care administrator.
This protocol will review the Amherst College Sports Medicine Departments on-field evaluation, management, assessment tools, return to play guidelines and definition of concussion. The goal of this protocol is to provide the ATC and Team Physician the necessary tools for making the appropriate return to play decisions.
