Southington Valley Football League est.1963

Southington Valley Midget Football League

Southington Valley Football League est.1963

Safety Information

All Nutmeg Youth Football League member organizations are required to participate in the USA Football program including Heads Up Tackling & Blocking. Organizations are also required to have a Safety Officer or Player Safety Coach (PSC). The Safety Officer/PSC will monitor the organizations Coaches / Parents / Players to ensure the correct implementation of USA Football guidelines and recommendations.

***All Head Coaches/Assistant Coaches need to be CPR & First Aid Certified within SVMFL in order to be a Coach in our league. Certifications expire every 2 years so they need to be handed into our Safety Officer on a yearly basis***

Please visit USAFootball for more information.

Player Safety Player safety is the primary concern of both parents and coaches. We all want our players to be safe at all times and to have fun. An important precaution at the youth level is the proper fitting of equipment. We ensure all players have high quality helmets, padding, and other protective gear when on the playing field, which greatly minimizes the risk of injury. It takes more than just great equipment to keep players safe. It also takes proper coaching, player preparation, safe field conditions, and regular practice learning how to properly use the equipment.

From a competition standpoint, age range and player weights play important roles in keeping players safe. Players are grouped according to their ages and weights, in order to avoid mismatches, and to offer maximum opportunity for safe participation.

CDC Heads Up Concussion Awareness and Certification

Helmet Fitting and Care

Only the player and his organization can ensure the player is wearing his helmet and chin strap properly. Without this support, you are fighting a losing battle.
Check and maintain all snaps and buckles. Snaps and buckles tend to fatigue throughout the year and should be switched out on a regular basis.
Ensure the player is wearing the proper size helmet. Players tend to favor bigger helmets in order to gain more comfort.
Make sure the Jaw (S, Z or Face Frame Pads) are secure against the face and mandible. Pads should feel snug but not tight.
Make sure that the chin strap is centered under the player's chin and the straps are taut and even on both sides.
Don't over-inflate the helmets. Over inflation leads to more rotation, which can cause the helmet to roll and slide off the player's head.
Check and maintain face masks on a regular basis. After a few games face masks can loosen slightly, and can change the helmet's fit.

Concussion Awareness

Sports-related concussion in high school and youth sports can be serious or even life-threatening situations if not managed correctly. In order to help educate coaches, officials, parents and students on the importance of proper concussion recognition and management in high school sports, we have provided some free courses and links to concussion awareness. This information will help you understand the impact sports-related concussion can have on young players, how to recognize a suspected concussion, the proper protocols to manage a suspected concussion, and steps to help your player return to play safely after experiencing a concussion.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Sudden cardiac arrest is not the same as a heart attack. It is the result of structural or electrical disorders in the heart that lead to a potentially lethal arrhythmia. Often, the first sign of a potential cardiac arrest is collapse during exercise. By having a properly trained staff and an AED (defibrillator) onsite, school and league administrators can greatly reduce tragic outcomes when SCA occurs.
For more information, view the USAFootball Information Sheet.

Concussion Overview & Symptoms

WHAT IS A CONCUSSION?
A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury that changes the way the brain normally works. A concussion is caused by a bump, blow, or
jolt to the head or body that causes the head and brain to move
quickly back and forth. Even a getting your bell rung, or what seems to be a mild bump or blow to the head can be serious.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF CONCUSSION?
Signs and symptoms of concussion can show up
right after the injury or may not appear or be noticed until days or weeks after the injury.
If an athlete reports one or more symptoms of concussion after a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body, s/he should be kept out of play the day of the injury. The athlete should only return to play with permission from a health care professional experienced in evaluating for concussion.

WHY SHOULD AN ATHLETE REPORT THEIR SYMPTOMS?
If an athlete has a concussion, his/her brain needs
time to heal. While an athlete’s brain is still healing, she/he is much more likely to have another concussion.

SYMPTOMS REPORTED BY ATHLETE
Headache or pressure in head
Nausea or vomiting
Balance problems or dizziness
Double or blurry vision
Sensitivity to light
Sensitivity to noise
Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy
Concentration or memory problems
Confusion
Just not feeling right or is feeling down

SIGNS OBSERVED BY COACHING STAFF
Appears dazed or stunned
Is confused about assignment or position
Forgets an instruction
Is unsure of game, score, or opponent
Moves clumsily
Answers questions slowly
Loses consciousness (even briefly)
Shows mood, behavior, or personality changes
Can’t recall events prior to hit or fall
Can’t recall events after hit or fall
WHY SHOULD AN ATHLETE REPORT THEIR SYMPTOMS?
If an athlete has a concussion, his/her brain needs
time to heal. While an athlete’s brain is still healing, she/he is much more likely to have another concussion.
Concussions can increase the time it takes to recover. In rare cases, repeat concussions in young athletes can result
in brain swelling or permanent damage to their brain. They can even be fatal.

IT’S BETTER TO MISS ONE GAME THAN THE WHOLE SEASON CONCUSSION DANGER SIGNS In rare cases; a dangerous blood clot may form on the brain in a person with a concussion and crowd the brain against the skull. An athlete should receive immediate
medical attention if after a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body s/he exhibits any of the following danger signs:
One pupil larger than the other
Is drowsy or cannot be awakened
A headache that gets worse
Weakness, numbness, or decreased coordination
Repeated vomiting or nausea
Slurred speech
Convulsions or seizures
Cannot recognize people or places
Becomes increasingly confused, restless, or agitated
Has unusual behavior
Loses consciousness (even a brief loss of consciousness should be
taken seriously)

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU THINK YOUR
ATHLETE HAS A CONCUSSION?
1. If you suspect that an athlete has a concussion,
remove the athlete from play and seek medical attention.
Do not try to judge the severity of the injury yourself.
Keep the athlete out of play the day of the injury and until
a health care professional, experienced in evaluating for
concussion, says s/he is symptom free and it’s OK to
return to play.
2. Rest is key to helping an athlete recover from a concussion. Exercising or activities that involve a lot of concentration, such as studying, working on the computer, and playing video games, may cause concussion symptoms to reappear or get worse. After a
concussion, returning to sports and school is a gradual
process that should be carefully managed and monitored
by a health care professional.
3. Remember: Concussions affect people differently.
While most athletes with a concussion recover quickly
and fully, some will have symptoms that last for days, or
even weeks. A more serious concussion can last for
months or longer.