How should I handle a possible concussion or head injury?

Question

Accepted Answer

Stop play. Under Law 5, you stop play for a serious injury, and a severe injury, especially a head injury (suspected concussion), is one of the exceptions where the player can be assessed and treated on the field. The one-minute off-field rule doesn't apply. Removal: US Soccer's Recognize to Recover guidelines say a player who takes a significant blow to the head, is suspected of having a concussion, or has an apparent head injury must be removed for evaluation by a health care professional knowledgeable in concussions. CDC HEADS UP says an athlete with a suspected concussion stays out for the rest of the day and until cleared by a health care provider. Substitutions: if your competition has adopted additional permanent concussion substitutions: each team may make one per match, even if it has used all its normal substitutions the replaced player takes no further part in the match the opponents may then make an additional substitution for any reason Restart: if play was stopped for the injury and not for an offense, restart with a dropped ball.