Concussion and player safety

The rule

When in doubt, sit them out. Any player suspected of having sustained a concussion is removed from play immediately and does not return that day, regardless of how they feel five minutes later, what the score is, or how much they want to carry on. This applies at every session and every match.

Recognising a concussion

A concussion does not require a loss of consciousness. Watch for:

• Headache, pressure in the head, dizziness or balance problems
• Nausea or vomiting
• Confusion, slow responses, or being unsure of the score or opponent
• Blurred or double vision, sensitivity to light or noise
• Memory problems, particularly about the incident itself
• Behaviour or personality changes, unusual irritability or emotion
• Feeling foggy, sluggish or simply not right

Symptoms can appear hours later. Parents should watch for them through the evening.

Emergency signs

Call 911 immediately if a player has one pupil larger than the other, cannot be woken, has a worsening headache, has slurred speech or weakness, has a seizure, vomits repeatedly, or becomes increasingly confused or agitated. Do not drive them yourself.

Return to play

Washington State's Zackery Lystedt Law requires written clearance from a licensed health care provider trained in concussion evaluation before a youth athlete returns to play. Coach Arnold follows this without exception, and will not accept a parent's verbal assurance in place of written clearance.

Return happens in stages: light aerobic activity, then sport-specific movement without contact, then non-contact drills, then full training, then match play. Each stage takes at least 24 hours, and any returning symptom sends the player back a stage.

Heading the ball

In line with US Soccer guidance, heading is not taught or practised with players aged 10 and under. For ages 11 and 12, heading in training is limited and taught with proper technique using appropriate balls.

Heat, cold and air quality

Sessions are modified or cancelled in extreme heat, with extra water breaks and reduced intensity. Sessions are cancelled for lightning, and do not resume until 30 minutes after the last strike. Sessions are cancelled when air quality reaches unhealthy levels, which matters in this region during wildfire season.

Equipment and surfaces

Shin guards are mandatory. Goals are checked for anchoring before every session. Fields are walked for hazards before players arrive. Jewellery and hard hair accessories are removed before play.

Injury reduction

Every session includes a structured warm-up and a cool-down. Conditioning work includes ankle, knee and hip strengthening drawn from established injury-prevention programs, which meaningfully reduce non-contact knee injuries in youth players.

First aid

Coach Arnold carries a first aid kit to every session and holds current first aid and CPR certification. Emergency contact details for every registered player are accessible at the field.

Talk to us

If a player has a history of concussion, a chronic condition, or an injury they're returning from, tell Coach Arnold before the first session. Sessions are adapted willingly and without fuss.

Last updated 1 September 2026. Coach Arnold Academy, Camas, Washington.