The NCAA Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports Committee recommended that the NCAA should approve a new rule that would sideline athletes who suffer a concussion for the rest of the day, according to a CBSSports.com report.
The committee is following in the footsteps of the NFL, which published new guidelines for handling concussions after seemingly more players suffered concussions this season. According to the NCAA, in some sports, concussions account for as many as 10 percent of all injuries to student-athletes.
The committee’s guidelines would require a player to miss the rest of a game or practice if he or she loses consciousness, suffers amnesia or exhibits persistent confusion. During games, referees would enforce the rule like they do for players who get cut.
However, the rule could have some gray area because teams and referees are encouraged to look out for milder symptoms, such as headaches and dizziness.
The committee’s recommendations move to the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel, which could pass them as early as January.
