AT READINESS · ATHLETIC TRAINER PATHWAY · EXPLORATION
Concussion Awareness
Recognize · Remove · Refer — when in doubt, sit them out.
⚠ EXPLORATION only — not BOC prep, not medical advice · the ATC credential requires a CAATE master's + the BOC exam
0 Coins
💧 0 Drops
📊 0% complete
K
Coach Katie
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) — a functional injury to how the brain works, not a structural one you'd see on a routine scan. On the sideline your job isn't to diagnose it — it's to recognize it, remove the athlete, and refer them to a qualified provider. When in doubt, sit them out.
Honest positioning: This is pre-professional EXPLORATION to show you what athletic training involves — it is not BOC exam prep and not medical advice. Becoming a certified athletic trainer (ATC) requires a CAATE-accredited master's degree and passing the Board of Certification (BOC) exam. Only qualified providers evaluate, diagnose, and manage concussion.
What it is
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury
A concussion is caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head — or a hit to the body that makes the head and brain move rapidly back and forth. That fast movement stretches brain cells and briefly disrupts the brain's chemistry and energy use, producing a change in how the brain functions.
⚙️ Functional injury
The problem is how the brain is working — its signaling and energy — not a visible break. That's why an athlete can look "fine" and still be concussed.
🩻 Not a structural injury
A routine CT or MRI is usually normal. Concussion is diagnosed from signs and symptoms, so a clear scan does not rule it out.
Key idea: A concussion is a brain injury. "Mild" describes the type — it does not mean harmless or ignorable.
Signs & symptoms
Watch four domains — physical, cognitive, emotional, sleep
Concussion symptoms show up across several areas at once. They can appear right away or be delayed hours to days, and athletes often downplay or don't notice them — so watch, ask, and take every report seriously.
🤕 Physical
Headache, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, balance problems, sensitivity to light or noise, blurred vision, "pressure" in the head.
🧠 Cognitive
Feeling foggy or slowed down, trouble concentrating or remembering, confusion, answering questions slowly.
😟 Emotional
Irritability, sadness, feeling more emotional than usual, nervousness or anxiety.
😴 Sleep
Sleeping more or less than usual, trouble falling asleep, drowsiness.
Remember: Loss of consciousness happens in only a small share of concussions. No "blackout" is required for it to be a concussion.
The rule
When in doubt, sit them out — Recognize · Remove · Refer
If you suspect a concussion, the athlete comes out of play immediately and does not return the same day. This is the heart of every youth-sports concussion law — and all 50 states have one.
1 · Recognize
Notice the mechanism (a head or body impact) and any signs or symptoms.
2 · Remove
Take them out of play now — no "finishing the game," no same-day return.
3 · Refer
Send them to a qualified provider for evaluation and clearance.
⚖️ It's the law
Every U.S. state has a youth concussion law built on recognize–remove–refer and provider clearance before return.
Why so strict? A brain that's still recovering is vulnerable. Returning too soon risks a worse or longer injury — so the safe default is always to sit them out.
Emergency
RED FLAGS — activate EMS (call 911) now
Most concussions are not emergencies, but some head injuries are. These red flags can signal dangerous bleeding or swelling in the brain. If you see any of them, activate your emergency action plan / EMS, call 911, and stay with the athlete.
Call 911 for: a headache that keeps getting worse · repeated vomiting · a seizure or convulsion · one pupil larger than the other · slurred speech · increasing confusion or agitation · not recognizing people or places · won't wake up or unusually drowsy · weakness, numbness, or loss of coordination · any loss of consciousness.
Use a rapid check you already know: the club's BE-FAST scan — Balance, Eyes, Face, Arms, Speech, Time — catches many of these same danger signs. If anything is off, don't wait: activate EMS.
Getting back
Return-to-Learn and Return-to-Play are gradual — and provider-cleared
Recovery is a stepwise, symptom-limited process managed by qualified providers. The brain usually returns to school work first (Return-to-Learn), then to sport (Return-to-Play).
One step at a time: the athlete advances through stages (rest → light activity → sport-specific drills → non-contact → full contact) only when symptom-free at each step.
Back up if symptoms return: any return of symptoms means dropping back to the previous step.
Provider clearance required: a physician or qualified provider must clear the athlete before full-contact return.
Learn before play: if concentrating in class still triggers symptoms, the athlete isn't ready for full sport.
Not your call to make: Only qualified providers — a physician, or a licensed athletic trainer working within their scope and protocol — diagnose a concussion and manage the return. As an aspiring AT, your lane is recognize · remove · refer.
K
Coach Katie
Two moments on the sideline. Pick the response that recognizes the injury, protects the brain, and gets the athlete the right care.
K
Coach Katie
Six quick questions. 75% to pass, then make your pledge.
K
Coach Katie
Learning sticks when you commit to a next step. Pick at least two pledges you'll actually do.
0 Coins