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Third quarter, Friday night. Your athlete gets up slowly after a tackle and tells the trainer they just do not feel right. What the adults on that sideline do next matters more than the score.
Dr. Jeff McWhorter, D.C., a chiropractor whose practice focuses on functional neurology and concussion rehabilitation, wrote a short plan for parents, coaches and athletes. This guide is built on it, step by step, with the public guidance behind each step.
The plan starts before the first practice. Book a baseline concussion test before the season starts while your athlete is healthy and rested, so there is a clear record of their normal balance, reaction time and thinking speed to compare against if a hit happens later.
Why take a mild hit seriously?
Many adults grew up hearing that a knock to the head was part of the game. Dr. McWhorter wants that idea retired.
Symptoms can be subtle, and they can take hours to show. A player who seems fine at the bench may be foggy at dinner.
Dr. Jeff McWhorter, D.C.A concussion is not simply "getting your bell rung." It is a brain injury, and what happens in the hours and days afterward matters.
What should you do in the first minutes after a hit?
Recognize the signs and remove the athlete from play right away. Watch for headache, dizziness, confusion, nausea, balance problems, sensitivity to light or noise, blurred vision, unusual tiredness, memory trouble, a change in personality, or an athlete who simply says something feels wrong.
Steps one and two of the plan go together. Once you suspect a concussion, the athlete sits out for the rest of the day, however they feel ten minutes later. California requires this removal for school athletes.
What coaches and parents see matters as much as what the athlete reports. The CDC lists signs such as looking dazed, answering questions slowly, clumsiness and sudden changes in mood.
Which warning signs mean call 911?
Some signs point to a more serious injury and need emergency care before anything else. Call 911 or go to the emergency room for seizures, repeated vomiting, a headache that keeps getting worse, slurred speech, weakness or numbness, growing confusion or trouble staying awake.
Step three is to keep watching. The CDC's danger signs for young athletes are listed below.
- Convulsions or seizures
- Not able to recognize people or places
- Repeated nausea or vomiting
- Increased confusion, restlessness or agitation
- Drowsiness, or cannot be woken or stay awake
- Slurred speech, weakness, numbness or poor coordination
- A headache that gets worse and does not go away
- One pupil larger than the other, or double vision
Keep in mind
If you see any of these after a head injury, call 911 or go to the emergency room first.
The observed signs and the danger-sign list follow the CDC HEADS UP signs and symptoms of concussion.
Who should evaluate a young athlete after a concussion?
A licensed health care provider trained in concussion should examine the athlete before any return to activity. Bring the details: how the hit happened, what symptoms showed up and when, and any past concussions. A pre-season baseline, if your athlete has one, gives that provider a point of comparison.
Step four of the plan is a proper evaluation, not a quick check on the bench. Symptoms can change over the first day, so repeat checks matter.
The baseline itself never decides anything. It is one piece of information for the provider who is following your athlete.
Why does a second hit matter so much?
A second head impact before the brain has recovered from the first tends to make recovery longer and harder. That is why an athlete with a suspected concussion stays out of all contact until a licensed provider has overseen a full, step-by-step return.
Step five of the plan is to prevent another impact while the brain recovers. It is the part Dr. McWhorter worries about most.
The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that young athletes who took an additional head impact within 24 hours of the first had a heavier symptom load and a longer recovery. Keeping a player out of contact is how a family keeps a short setback from becoming a long one.
Dr. Jeff McWhorter, D.C.No game is important enough to gamble with a teenager's brain.
The second-impact finding comes from the American Academy of Pediatrics clinical report on sport-related concussion.
What does a recovery plan look like?
Early recovery usually means relative rest for a day or two, with normal daily activities, less screen time and easy walking as tolerated. From there, light exercise and schoolwork are added in steps, and anything that clearly worsens symptoms is scaled back.
Step six is to begin an appropriate recovery plan. For most young athletes, symptoms settle within a few weeks.
When headaches, dizziness, blurry vision or poor focus hang on, a closer look helps. Our concussion rehab when symptoms linger checks balance, eye movement and reaction time, and works with the athlete's physician and school.
The guidance on relative rest and screen time follows the 2022 international consensus statement on concussion in sport.
How should school, exercise and sport come back?
Step seven is a gradual return: school first, then exercise, then sport, each under appropriate guidance. The CDC says most children can go back to school within a day or two, often with short-term supports such as rest breaks, extra time and a lighter workload.
California law (Ed Code 49475) requires school athletes with a concussion to get written clearance from a licensed health care provider and complete a graduated return-to-play protocol of at least 7 days under supervision.
Dr. McWhorter is part of the return-to-play team. He partners with families, coaches, and athletic trainers on structured, step-by-step return-to-play programs, so young athletes get back to their sport safely and with confidence.
Dr. Jeff McWhorter, D.C.The goal should never simply be: "Can they play Friday?" The better question is: "Has their brain actually recovered enough to safely return?"
The removal, clearance, 7-day and information-sheet rules are set out in California Education Code section 49475.
The school supports described here come from the CDC HEADS UP guidance on returning to school.
How can coaches make it easier to speak up?
Athletes hide symptoms when they fear losing their spot. Coaches can change that by praising the player who reports a problem and by making the sit-out rule the same for everyone, starters included.
Parents can help at home by asking plain questions after games and by keeping the annual concussion information sheet, which California asks athletes and parents to sign before each season, somewhere easy to find. Dr. McWhorter tells athletes that reporting symptoms is not weakness.
Dr. Jeff McWhorter, D.C.[Reporting symptoms] may protect their season, their future in sports, and most importantly, their long-term health.
What should families keep on hand this season?
Keep the seven steps on the fridge and in the team bag: recognize, remove, watch, evaluate, prevent a second hit, recover, then return gradually. Save the CDC danger signs in your phone.
Before the season starts, book the baseline so there is a record to compare against. After an injury, once a physician has examined your athlete, our brain and balance care at our rehabilitation center can re-test balance, eye movement and reaction time against that baseline and share the results with the providers following your athlete.
Frequently asked questions
Can my child go back into the same game if they feel better?
No. An athlete with a suspected concussion sits out for the rest of the day, even if the symptoms seem to pass. California law requires this for school athletes.
Who decides when my child can play again?
A licensed health care provider gives written clearance, and school athletes in California also complete a graduated protocol of at least 7 days under supervision. Dr. Jeff McWhorter, D.C., works as part of that return-to-play team, alongside your child's physician, athletic trainer and coach.
Should my child stay off screens after a concussion?
Cutting back on screens makes sense for the first 48 hours. After that, the 2022 international consensus statement found little evidence that longer screen limits help, so follow the plan your child's provider gives you.
When is the best time for a baseline test?
Before the season starts, while your athlete is healthy and well rested. A quiet room without distractions gives the most useful result. For minors, a parent gives written consent and takes part in the evaluation.
What if my child has had a concussion before?
Tell every provider about each past head injury. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that athletes with several past concussions, or a recovery that lasted more than four weeks, may need more time at each step of their return.
Get a baseline on file before the season
Start with a complimentary 15-minute call with our team.