In Ohio concussion training is mandatory for high school umpires. It's an online course and you have to get recertified every three years. This is a state law that applies to all youth sports officials.
Our local ASA umpire association also requires this (central Ohio/Columbus area). I believe that this is state-wide. I can't speak to how other organizations are handling this (NSA, USSSA, etc.) but am sure they've addressed it since it is a state law.
Unless an umpire is a first responder, nurse, or doctor they have no business in dealing with concussions.
We aren't required to deal with them medically or offer any sort of treatment. The training is pretty basic. It tells you what concussion is, how they happen, the effects they can have on a person, and what the symptoms can be.
Our obligation during a game is that if any player exhibits any of the possible symptoms, we can have them removed from the game. You would hope that the player's coach, trainer, or parents would do that before the umpire has to step in. But we are kind of the neutral "last line of defense", the only ones with no stake in keeping an injured player in the game.
Unless an umpire is a first responder, nurse, or doctor they have no business in dealing with concussions.
Unless an umpire is a first responder, nurse, or doctor they have no business in dealing with concussions.
I'm a LL umpire, but I really wish that they WOULD offer concussion training to us here in New Mexico. While not a medical expert by any means, I'd rather be able to see some of the symptoms. I know to look for the dilated pupils, but what else? And it's not about having that upper hand control, but rather a safety measure for the kids. Personally, I'd rather be safe than sorry. So far this year in 4 games called, I've seen 3 kids get plunked in the head (13-15 year olds). Worst one seen yet is a kid taking a bad hop and hitting him in the jugular. He immediately felt light headed and eventually passed out. Scariest **** ever. So that's why I think all umpires at any level should receive a minimum medical training.
I'm a LL umpire, but I really wish that they WOULD offer concussion training to us here in New Mexico. While not a medical expert by any means, I'd rather be able to see some of the symptoms. I know to look for the dilated pupils, but what else? And it's not about having that upper hand control, but rather a safety measure for the kids. Personally, I'd rather be safe than sorry. So far this year in 4 games called, I've seen 3 kids get plunked in the head (13-15 year olds). Worst one seen yet is a kid taking a bad hop and hitting him in the jugular. He immediately felt light headed and eventually passed out. Scariest **** ever. So that's why I think all umpires at any level should receive a minimum medical training.
Unless an umpire is a first responder, nurse, or doctor they have no business in dealing with concussions.
Here's the problem........
By doing anything more than removing a player from the game, you are putting yourself in a position of personal liability if something should go wrong. You're much better off leaving the addressing of injuries to coaches & parents. Unless you want to pay a huge insurance premium to protect yourself (just like trained doctors do) you're much better off staying out of injury situations. Other than calling immediate time out so that the injured can be attended to a quickly as possible, stay out of it. In the case of head injuries, "When in doubt, hold them out!" That's how we've been instructed.
Amen!
OH trust me, I'm not asking for instruction on what to do medically. I just want to know whether to allow the player to continue or force the issue and make the coach sub the player out.
should this be done by umpires?
if so does this give the umpire any means to remove a player that
has taken a pos head injury from the game?
adults and kids as players.