Implementing a Concussion Protocol in Campus Recreation – with no AT’s involved

February 16, 2017

Jason J. Linsenmeyer, PhD

Oklahoma State University

Assistant Director of Recreation Programs

Recent reports from professional, collegiate, and high school sports regarding concussions are alarming. These reports and discussions held at conferences led the Rec Sports Program to begin conversations with their Health Services professionals on ways to help students at Oklahoma State University (OSU).

I did not know our Director of University Health Services (UHS) prior to the conversations about concussions.  I sent him a message with my concerns for students participating in intramural and sport clubs, and he indicated he shared my mind-set about protecting students, and if needed, helping them return to participate.

In an initial meeting, the Director of UHS and two of his doctors were present and we discussed the possibilities.  Everyone in this meeting agreed that there was a need, and that we should proceed in finding a way to help those students who exhibit signs of a concussion.  The director and his doctors went to work on this by reaching out to colleagues and others in the health services profession.  Initial drafts were formed for the concussion protocol and edits made along the way.  In my experience the staff at UHS has been more than willing to help and assist in implementing the protocol.  This model may work at your school if you have similar resources available. Read more

Campus Collaborators Making Big Impact on Florida State University Campus

December 08, 2016

Angela Sehgal, EdD, LAT, ATC
Program Director, Athletic Training
Program Director, Pre-Health Professions Learning Community
Graduate Faculty Member, Sports Sciences
Florida State University

The Beginning
Several years ago at Florida State University (FSU), the question was asked…why don’t the campus recreation athletes receive the same treatment and care as the student-athletes do in the Athletic Department? The answer to that question served as a catalyst for dialogue between the Athletic Training and Sports Sciences faculty from the FSU College of Human Sciences, Director of University Health Services, Medical Director of Health and Wellness Center, and the Director of Campus Recreation and affiliated staff. Specific strategies started to emerge about the possibilities of comprehensive, on-campus, sports medicine care for all FSU students who were physically active. Read more

Beyond the Ordinary: Adventure Recreation in the Third Age

December 08, 2016

Michelle LeBlanc
Simon Fraser University

Editors note: This is the first in a series of articles on the ageing population and the opportunities they represent to recreation programmers.

Gone are the days of passive cruise vacations, bridge, and bingo for adults entering retirement! Significant progress in the medical and technological fields has contributed to longer lives averaging near and beyond 80 years in North America. Along with these advances, the rapid aging of the largest demographic wedge (Baby Boomers) evokes a new era for the world of recreation programming.

Social scientists and health researchers suggest that this aging group will tend to live longer, healthier lives than previous generations. In addition to better health, there are also differences in values and beliefs, effectively shaping the way in which they prefer to spend their years in post-retirement. It has also been suggested that this age group thrives on stimulating experiences, for example, cultural exposure and adventure travel. This in turn creates a potential for recreation facilities to offer exciting, stimulating and meaningful programs versus traditional elementary activities. Read more

Is this the end of Sport Clubs as we know them?

December 08, 2016

Or an opportunity for significant improvements in safety?

Ian McGregor, Ph.D.
President, SportRisk

Is the writing on the wall for Sport Club programs as we know them? The issue that has the potential to severely impact higher risk Sport Clubs is concussions. It’s hard to ignore recent news reports about concussions – particularly in the NFL, and more recently in the NCAA (check out class action lawsuit report: http://ow.ly/qgQa306BuUu

In Canada, the Federal Government has announced significant funding to develop ‘national concussion management guidelines’: http://ow.ly/hI5x306Dq4t, with the injury-prevention charity Parachute (www.parachutecanada.org) tasked with ‘leading the development of harmonized concussion protocols through an advisory committee that includes doctors, teachers and coaches from across the country’.

In addition, with more and more concussions being reported, and the number of concussion-related lawsuits increasing dramatically, the Insurance industry has taken notice. A major insurer in the North American market has recently made a decision to exclude coverage of all traumatic brain injuries (this would include concussions) for all colleges, universities, educational institutions, municipalities and school districts. This new directive would be implemented on the policy renewal date. A wake up call indeed!

So it’s not a big stretch to realize that this issue is going to trickle down to Campus Recreation – sooner as opposed to later. Read more

A Strategy for Educating Students about the Active Shooter

December 08, 2016

Teaching with Stories and Content
Cara W. McFadden, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Sport and Event Management
School of Communications
Elon University

In the wake of over 200 mass shootings in 2016, it is important for practitioners to view themselves as educators to discuss strategies for teaching future collegiate recreation professionals about active shooter protocols (as well as train current student employees). For this article practitioners will be called educators.

The Gun Violence Archive defines a “mass shooting” as any event where there are four or more people injured or killed. The most recent mass shooting at the Orlando Pulse night club killed 49 people. This and other similar occurrences are happening in our public spaces where individuals should feel safe – schools, movie theaters, churches, community facilities, and other social gathering spaces. With the awareness that Campus Recreation centers can also be included under ‘public spaces’, professionals need to be prepared in the event of a mass shooting occurring in their recreation facilities.

This article focuses on the concern of the active shooter in sport and recreation environments and the role practitioners play in educating students to have a survival mindset. Strategies will be shared from an example of a course taught at Elon University entitled, Facilities and Venue Management. The course concentrates on the use of personal story telling with an active shooter incident, case study analysis, and application to the industry.
The pedagogy or teaching strategy used for the course is divided into three course meetings that could also be planned for three training sessions (or day long training).
Read more

The Importance of Concussion Awareness and Education in the Campus Recreation setting

October 04, 2016

Lexi Chaput
Assistant Director – Club Sports
University of Michigan

Concussions continue to be in the forefront of sports news. In January 2016, a federal judge approved a settlement in a class-action suit against the NCAA that created new mandates for response to head injury. Whether it is fair and accurate or not, the comparison between Club Sports and NCAA athletics is frequently drawn. The Risk Management Department or University Legal is unlikely to understand the difference – their ultimate concern being the potential insurance claims and lawsuits that could result from an activity. Despite the fact that there is typically a significant difference in the amount of resources (both human and financial) provided to an NCAA team vs. a Club Sport’s team, the risk of injury does not change, hence the need for education and response to head injuries also does not change.

Read more

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