Any player involved in contact with the head (including head-to-head, head-to-floor, head-to-elbow, or similar contact) must be immediately removed from the game for evaluation by a parent or guardian.

If the player was fouled on the play and is awarded free throws, a substitute player will shoot the free throws. The injured player must remain out of the game for at least one play.

Before the player may return to the game, a parent or legal guardian — and only a parent or legal guardian — must evaluate the player and authorize their return to play.

Authorization must be written on the back of the score sheet and include the following statement:

“I, (parent/guardian name), give permission for (player’s name) to return to the game.”

The statement must also include the parent/guardian’s signature.

If a parent or guardian is not present, the player will not be permitted to return to that game or any additional games played that day.

Game officials have the final authority and discretion to determine whether it is safe for a player to return to play following head contact or any other injury.

We appreciate the cooperation of all coaches, players, and families in supporting this protocol, which is designed to prioritize the safety and well-being of all participants.

Officials will document any head injury or other serious injury that prevents a player from returning to the game on an incident report form.