Concussion Information

An important goal of the Winnetka Hockey Club is to promote a safe environment for our players by administering effective concussion management policies and procedures.

Continuing to play with a concussion or symptoms of a head injury not only leaves the player vulnerable to greater injury, but also may prolong recovery. WHC supports a cautious and conservative approach to concussions and head injuries by ensuring we are in compliance with our Concussion Management Guidelines.

Winnetka Hockey Club encourages all players to complete baseline ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) before the season begins. This establishes a benchmark in the event a players becomes injured.

If a coach suspects a player may have sustained a concussion, he will sit the player down and evaluate. If there is any indication of an injury, the players parents will be asked to come the bench to help evaluate their child. Coaches have the ability to override a parents decision to let a kid back in the game/practice.

Players with a suspected head injury and/or displaying symptomatic signs of a head injury should sit out until cleared by a physician. The physician clearance should come from a physician familiar with ImPACT neuropsychological testing. It is strongly recommended that any athlete who has been diagnosed with a concussion take a post-injury ImPACT test to ensure that they are back within baseline performance levels before clearance to play is given.