Seneca Valley Begins Mandatory Concussion Testing Today

With the Safety in Youth Sports Act, also known at the “concussion bill” signed by Gov. Tom Corbett last fall, Seneca Valley will offer several mandatory concussion testing sessions for student athletes in July and August.

The law went into effect July 1.

"Some will call this erring on the side of caution,'' Corbett said in a statement. "To that I say, 'you bet.' When it has to do with our young people, with their health and safety, we should take no needless chances.''

The measure requires athletes who may have suffered a head injury to be removed from the activity and does not allow them to return to play until they are medically cleared. It also requires concussion training for coaches annually—and establishes penalties against those who don't comply.

"Our hope is that this bill will reduce the risk of long-term damage for student athletes who suffer concussions or other brain-related trauma while participating in sports," Corbett said.

All Seneca Valley athletes in grades 7-12 must be tested at the school before participating in a 2012-13 school or club-sponsored sport. The district’s athletic office will provide the concussion testing at the same time as the summer drug testing hours.

According to the district, the concussion testing will provide a baseline score for the athlete's attention span, working memory and reaction time. If the athlete suffers a concussion, he or she will retake the tests to see if there is a change in the post-concussion score. 

The testing sessions will be located on the second floor of the and are not gender specific. Sessions will run about every 30 minutes. Each session will begin once the room is full and will be done on a first-come basis.

Below are the mandatory baseline concussion testing times and dates the district offers for the fall 2012 sessions.

Thursday, July 26

• Boys physicals and drug testing, 8 a.m. to noon.  
• Girls drug testing, 1 to 3 p.m.  

Thursday, Aug. 2               

• Girls physicals and drug testing, 8 a.m. to noon 
• Boys drug testing, 1 to 3 p.m.  

Wednesday, Aug. 8            

• All—drug testing, 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 9

• All—make-up physicals and drug testing, 8 a.m. to noon.
• All—drug testing, 1 to 3 p.m.

Physicals

Parent/guardian must complete Sections 1-4 of the CIPPE physical form in order for the school doctor to sign Section 5. There is a $15 fee for this service.

Drug testing

Students must bring the completed Parental Consent Form and payment. The fee is $28 and may be paid by cash or check (payable to SVSD).

*All forms may be found on the Seneca Valley website under Athletics / Athletic Forms.