Concussion training needed for state competition

LIHU‘E — All high school coaches, including head coaches, assistants and volunteers, participating in any Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association state championship event must complete the National Federation of State High School Associations online concussion education course.

During the Aug. 13 meeting, the HHSAA board approved the provision, said Natalie Iwamoto, the HHSAA director of information Wednesday.

“It is the responsibility of our coaches and administrators to not only prepare our student athletes for victory, but to provide a safe environment as well,” said Chris Chun, executive director of HHSAA, in the release.

“Concussion in Sports — What You Need to Know” is a free 30-minute course available on the NFHS learning website at www.nfhslearn.com and is a collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The course provides information on concussion recognition and management.

If a coach fails to complete the course, he, or she, will not be allowed on the sideline during the HHSAA event until the course has been successfully completed.

“I am very pleased our Board recognized the severity of concussions in athletics and included this course as part of the coaching certification process in Hawai‘i,” Chun said. “The NFHS’s concussion course provides a strong foundation which will prepare our coaches to deal with concussions in collaboration with our athletic trainers and other health care professionals.”

The HHSAA launched a concussion awareness and education campaign in August with a 30-second Public Service Announcement aired on OC-16 as well as a concussion resource page on its website, SportsHigh.com.

Visit www.sportshigh.com for more information.

• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.