NEW REQUIREMENT for Referees, Starters & Chief Judges

The following policy was adopted by the AMS Officials Committee at the September 8, 2014 meeting...

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania passed into law, effective July 1, 2012, legislation that provides better monitoring of concussions in PA’s interscholastic athletes. Among other things, the legislation mandates that coaches must complete a concussion management certification training course offered by an approved provider.

In some other states, including Ohio, their legislation requires that an individual who referees interscholastic athletic contests must have completed within the last three years a training program in concussion recognition.

The Allegheny Mountain Swimming Officials Committee recognizes that concussions happen in athletic competition and that it is important that Officials be trained in concussion awareness. As a result, all AMS Referees, Starters and Chief Judges must complete, as a requirement of their certification, an approved online concussion education course. This certification will be valid from three years from the date of completion. This requirement must be completed by December 31, 2014. After 12/31/14, an AMS Official will not be allowed to function as a Referee, Starter and/or Chief Judge without this certification.

The AMS Officials Committee strongly encourages all of its certified officials to complete the online concussion education course but it is not required.

The following free online training courses have been approved by the AMS Officials Committee for its Referees, Starters and Chief Judges:

National Federation of State High School Associations Concussion in Sports - http://www.nfhslearn.com/electiveDetail.aspx?courseID=38000 

Click the “order here” button, and complete a brief registration form to take the course. Follow these steps to complete the course:

1.  *   Click on the button that says “Please Login to Order.” In the window that appears, click “Register Now.”

2.    * When your registration is complete, you may "order" the free concussion course offered along the left-hand side of the page. Continue following prompts. Although it may look like you will be charged for the course, there is no cost.

3.    * Once you've completed "Checkout," you will be able to take the free online course.

4.    * When you have completed and passed the course, you have the option of printing a certificate of completion.

5.    All AMS Officials should select this option to print, retain a copy of the certificate and carry it with them to all meets.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Heads Up Concussion in Youth Sports 

http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/HeadsUp/online_training.html

Once you have completed your training, please forward a scanned copy of your certificate of completion to Bob Mermelstein, AMS Officials Chair at bob.mermelstein@gmail.com