SPORTS MEDICINE INFORMATION FOR OUR MEMBER SCHOOLS & STUDENT-ATHLETES
Sports Safety for Interscholastic Athletics
The Sports Medicine team promotes injury prevention and sport safety through education and focuses on decreasing the number and/or severity of injuries by developing guidelines and teaching sports safety and by collecting, analyzing and researching injury data. These goals are carried out by the Nevada State Licensed Athletic Trainers who work in our schools, the Nevada Sports Medicine Advisory Committee and the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association.
Thanks to all of our Nevada State Licensed Athletic Trainers who offer their expertise and knowledge, helping our students maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Many NIAA member schools either employ or have access to a Nevada State Licensed Athletic Trainer (ATC). These individuals are professionally trained healthcare professionals who specialize in preventing, recognizing, managing and rehabilitating injuries that result from physical activity. They work in cooperation with other healthcare professionals, athletic administrators / directors, coaches and parents. One can find them on the sidelines, applying ice, a brace or a tape job to any or our over 30,000 high school athletes in Nevada. Not only do athletic trainers provide first aid and immediate care for our injured athletes, they also design and supervise proper warm-up routines, hydration education and rehabilitation programs.
NIAA SMAC Mission Statement & Goals
NDE - NIAA initial slide presention (general introduction)
NIAA Concussion Policy (return to play procedurers)
Nevada Senate Bill 80 (2021) - effective July 1, 2024
NIAA Physical Form (approved by the Board of Control on March, 2023)
Concussion Protocol
Nevada state statute requires that, "The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association shall adopt a policy concerning the prevention and treatment of injuries to the head which may occur during a pupil's participation in interscholastic activities and events, including, without limitation, a concussion of the brain. The policy must provide information concerning the nature and risk of injuries to the head which may occur during a pupil's participation in interscholastic activities and events, including, without limitation, the risks associated with continuing to participate in the activity or event after sustaining such an injury." (NRS 385B.080)
The NIAA has adopted the "Suggested Guidelines for Management of Concussion in Sports" statement of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) as minimum standards regarding the prevention and treatment of injuries to the head. In addition to this policy, the NIAA requires that all coaches successfully complete the NFHS course "Concussion in Sport" prior to coaching. The NIAA has also helped to negotiate the creation of a program in which all students are tested prior to participation in NIAA sports to establish a baseline in cognitive function to which the student can be compared to aid in diagnosis and treatment of a brain injury. Districts and schools are strongly encouraged to participate in this or equivalent programs of baseline testing. These three components, the NFHS Guidelines for Management of Concussion, the requirement for coaches to successfully complete the NFHS concussion course, and the strong encouragement to schools to provide baseline testing, comprise the NIAA concussion policy.
NIAA SMAC meeting packet for September 12, 2024
NIAA SMAC meeting agenda for September 12, 2024 (8:00a.m. - virtually)
NIAA SMAC meeting packet for April 24, 2024 (1:00 p.m. - virtually)
NIAA SMAC meeting minutes from April 6, 2023
NIAA SMAC meeting packet from September 8, 2023
NIAA SMAC meeting packet from August 24, 2023
2024-25 NIAA Concussion Policy
2024-25 NIAA Heat Acclimatization & Illness Policy
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Nevada Assembly Bill 455-effective July 1, 2011
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School Districts and the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association are required to set policy for handling head injuries by student athletes. Those policies must mandate students be removed immediately from competitive sports if they suffer a concussion or head injury and not be able to return to play until they are examined and cleared by a health care provider.
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NFHS Suggested Guidelines for Management of Concussion in Sports
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Concussion Education for Coaches (NFHS Course - Free for Coaches)
HEAT ILLNESS:
WRESTLING:
NFHS guidelines for lightning - thunder stroms
Other Health and Educational Websites
