The policy applies to all U.S. Ski & Snowboard participant members and requires review and signature by all members. While the policy refers to all members and requires that minor athletes be benched in the case of suspected concussion, under the authority of the Head Coach or Technical Delegate, any athlete may be benched in competition or training regardless of age due to a suspected concussion. Only minors are required to be placed on membership hold pending clearance from a licensed health care provider trained in concussion management.

1. Bench the athlete.
2. Notify athlete's coach.
3. The coach must notify parents.
4. TD or Coach completes and submits either the online or PDF K&K First Report of Accident found near the top of this page on the right hand column. K&K will alert Competition Services, but providing a copy by email to Competition Services is helpful
5. Coach presents athlete and/or parent and/or coach with the Concussion Medical Evaluation Form and parent's letter that must be completed prior to return to sport.

The Competition Organizer along with the jury will accept a signed Medical Evaluation Form authorizing the return to competition if the form is properly completed and signed by a licensed health care provider and signed and presented by the parent or the legal guardian (not the coach) of the athlete to the Organizers and Jury. This release must be presented and accepted prior to the team captains meeting and the draw. The parent or legal guardian must follow-up immediately by emailing the release to Competition Services in order to remove the athlete from the membership hold roster. The document must also be attached to the official results that are submitted by the organizing committee. This could also apply to athletes being cleared during a period when the U.S. Ski & Snowboard office was not available to acknowledge the signed and completed medical form and remove the athlete from the membership hold roster.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard will host a roster of athletes who are on membership hold or suspension due to medical reasons. The roster will be available on the website and will be updated regularly to reflect the athletes who are on hold and also to remove the athletes who have been cleared.

A licensed healthcare provider who is trained in the evaluation and management of a concussion and who has, within three years before the day on which the written statement is made, successfully completed a continuing education course in the evaluation and management of a concussion.

Information on members of concussion hold can be found at List of Athletes on Membership Hold -  this list is hosted as a Google Doc.

In the case of a U.S. Ski & Snowboard competition or official training, the jury has the authority and the TD has final authority. In the case of club training, the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Coach who is in charge of the training session.

Completes and submit either the online or PDF K&K First Report of Accident found near the top of this page on the right hand column. K&K will alert Competition Services, but providing a copy by email to Competition Services is helpful.

The U.S. Ski & Snowboard Concussion Policy requirements must be followed. However many states have also enacted head injury laws that may include additional requirements/restrictions. Please review the law for your state and, if required, contact U.S. Ski & Snowboard for direction. Additionally, if working in another state, you may wish to discuss with the Head Coach or Chief of Race, how the local club usually handles head injuries. This is a developing area of responsibility and it is important to be aware that U.S. Ski & Snowboard may provide further guidance in the future. Click here for state laws on concussion.

Yes, U.S. Ski & Snowboard is responsible for the conduct of those events held within the USA, these decisions by the TD and Jury need to be in concert with the FIS rules. In the case of foreign minor athletes attending FIS races in the United States, it would be advisable for the TD to alert all of the Team Captains of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard concussion policy and procedures.

Unethical behavior of this nature will not be tolerated, all athletes are entitled to due process, the TD and jury will endeavor to provide due process in all decisions relative to competition.

Parents MUST also take responsibility! The coach and the home club could be liable in this situation. It is critical that coaches respond to and report on suspected concussion injuries in order to protect the welfare of the athlete and to be accountable to their home club. Suspected concussion injuries that occur in training must be reported by the coach to U.S. Ski & Snowboard on the standard American Specialties Insurance First Report of Injury with email or fax to Competition Services in order that the athlete can be placed on Membership Hold.

Concussion symptoms differ with each person and with each injury, and may not be noticeable for hours or days. More information is available from the CDC.

Common symptoms include:

• Headache
• Confusion
• Difficulty remembering or paying attention
• Balance problems or dizziness
• Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy
• Feeling irritable, more emotional, or “down”
• Nausea or vomiting
• Bothered by light or noise
• Double or blurry vision
• Slowed reaction time
• Sleep problems
• Loss of consciousness

Club leaders should identify a volunteer medical coordinator to help network and route various medical issues for the local athlete. Other resources could include inquiring with U.S. Ski & Snowboard about their recommendations. Another recommendation for concussion management at the club level is ImPACT. Check out the services they provide by visiting their website and locate a qualified medical provider trained in concussion management. 

For parents, we recommend the imPACT testing so that they have an impartial opinion on the status of their child's concussion. Kids often are keen to get back too soon and will underplay the effects. As we know this can be extremely dangerous, and so with the testing, the decision is pretty black and white, and takes the onus off of the parents being the "bad guys."

We recommend that the club has their own policy in order to adhere to and be in compliance with both State Law and with U.S. Ski & Snowboard policy. You are welcome to use or adapt our policy as much as possible. The important thing is that you adhere to the law.