NCAA Concussion Safety & Management
Resources, education and research related to student-athlete brain health and safety.
Understanding Concussions in College Sports
A concussion is a serious injury, so proper reporting, diagnosis and treatment are crucial. Student-athlete wellbeing is a priority for the NCAA and has been a key component of our mission for more than 100 years. The NCAA is a leader in evaluating the impact of concussions in sport and has produced research and best practices to mitigate the potential effects of head injuries.
In partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense, the NCAA announced in May 2014 a $30 million effort to fund the most comprehensive clinical study of concussion and head impact exposure ever conducted, and issue an educational grand challenge aimed at changing important concussion safety behaviors in college sports and ultimately, the military. Over the next three years, the study will perform baseline assessments on more than 37,000 student-athletes, plus repeat assessments on any individual who suffers a concussion. This landmark research will establish the natural history of concussion including risks, treatment and management. The educational grand challenge, to be launched in September 2014, will seek to change the culture of concussion reporting and management among coaches, administrators and student-athletes. Combined with previous research funded by the NCAA, this initiative will develop resources intended to suport member schools in providing student-athletes with the best care possible.
NCAA member schools are a critical component of these efforts. Our campuses recognize the responsibility they have to care for their student-athletes. To empower campus personnel and others with the most up-to-date information on concussions, the NCAA provides detailed recommendations in its Sports Medicine Handbook—a publication that is available to every NCAA member school. The NCAA also provides resources to raise awareness of concussions among student-athletes.
In addition to playing rules aimed at providing a safer playing environment, such as prohibiting helmet-to-helmet contact, the NCAA requires each member school to have a concussion management plan in place. These plans detail when a player should be removed from practice or competition and give guidelines for evaluation by a health care provider before returning to play. If a student-athlete shows signs of a concussion, he or she is not permitted to return to play the same day of the injury.
Concussion Safety Protocol Management
The following Concussion Safety Protocol template is designed as a tool for NCAA schools to consider using to satisfy NCAA Divisions I, II and III concussion safety protocol legislation. The NCAA Concussion Safety Advisory Group regularly reviews the Concussion Safety Protocol Checklist and, where appropriate, recommends updates to the document for consideration by the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports.
Should schools choose to use the Template, it highlights all components of the updated NCAA Concussion Safety Protocol Checklist and includes shaded cells for schools to use to personalize their protocol. Schools are not required to use the template; rather, it is offered as a resource to support athletic departments in their concussion safety efforts. The content of this template is offered for educational purposes only and is not intended to constitute, or be a substitute for, medical or legal advice. The content is not intended to be exhaustive, and we encourage membership to review these materials with applicable campus medical, legal and risk-management authorities to determine whether and how best to use this information to address individual institutional risks and requirements. All concussion safety protocols, regardless if developed using the template or another mechanism, must be consistent with all applicable divisional legislative requirements.
Key Updates (Effective Jan. 15, 2024):
- Member schools must ensure that concussion management practices are updated to comply with legislative requirements and related documents.
- Schools must continue to comply with Interassociation Recommendations: Preventing Catastrophic Injury and Death in Collegiate Athletes.
- Division I schools are no longer required to submit their concussion safety protocols to the NCAA Concussion Safety Protocol Committee.
Evidence- and Consensus-Based Guidance
At its September 2023 meeting the NCAA Committee Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports approved modifications to the Concussion Safety Protocol Checklist, the Concussion Safety Protocol Template and the Concussion Fact Sheets, as recommended by the NCAA Concussion Safety Advisory Group. The Checklist is reviewed annually by the CSAG, which is composed of subject matter experts from external scientific and medical professional organizations and representatives from the NCAA membership to determine whether available research data and accepted industry practices may warrant revisions to its content.
The CSAG recommendations were informed by the Sixth International Consensus Conference on Concussion in Sport publication, NCAA-Department of Defense Concussion Assessment, Research and Education Consortium data and other emerging evidence-based guidance. The recommendations focus on evaluation tools, on/off field assessment, return-to-learn and return-to-sport management. Updated content is highlighted for easy identification.
NCAA legislation requires that schools’ concussion management plans be consistent with the Checklist. To facilitate and support member compliance with this requirement, Checklist updates have been incorporated into the approved Protocol Template. The Protocol Template includes all components of the Checklist and may be customized by schools to accommodate and reflect their individual needs and practices. Updated content is highlighted for easy identification.
Member schools must ensure that concussion management practices are updated to comply with legislative requirements and related documents.
Division I schools are no longer required to submit their concussion safety protocols to the NCAA Concussion Safety Protocol Committee.
Reporting Process
Section IX.C. of the Arrington Settlement Agreement obligates the NCAA to “create a reporting process through which member institutions will report instances of diagnosed concussions in NCAA student-athletes and their resolution.” In January 2020, all three NCAA divisions passed emergency or noncontroversial legislation (Division I Constitution 4.3.4.21;Division II Constitution 3.3.4.18; Division III Constitution 3.2.4.18) requiring an active member institution “to report all instances of diagnosed sport-related concussions in student-athletes and their resolution to the NCAA on an annual basis pursuant to policies and procedures maintained by the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports.”
Schools should use the online reporting tool for submitting the annual report on concussions. Step-by-step reporting instructions and a Frequently Asked Questions guide may be helpful for member schools.
The annual cycle for reporting concussions is from July 1 to June 30 of the following year. This cycle parallels the footprint of a typical academic year. Schools may report at any time during the year, but it is anticipated that most schools will elect to report late in the cycle to ensure that they have an accurate accounting of the concussions that occurred during the preceding academic year.
Upon successful submission of the concussion report, the individual that reports on behalf of the school will immediately receive an email confirming that the report has been submitted. This email will also contain a confirmation number and the number of reported and resolved concussions for the purpose of checking reporting accuracy.
Data Collection
Data collection, research and evidence-based decision making are central to SSI’s approach. The SSI studies concussion trends, outcomes and responses to improve student-athlete health, safety and performance and develop effective concussion mitigation strategies.
Research & Initiatives
The NCAA supports concussion research and education initiatives focused on improving the understanding, prevention, diagnosis and management of sport-related concussion. Through national partnerships and research programs, the NCAA continues to support efforts that advance student-athlete brain health and long-term well-being.
Learn more about NCAA concussion research initiatives, the CARE Consortium, Mind Matters Challenge and additional educational efforts.
Education & Resources
The NCAA provides concussion education and resources to help support student-athlete health, safety and well-being. Understanding how to recognize concussion symptoms, report injuries and follow proper recovery protocols can help protect student-athletes and support safer participation in college sports.
NCAA member schools are expected to support concussion awareness and education efforts for student-athletes, coaches, administrators and campus partners.
Explore additional NCAA concussion policies, institutional requirements and protocol guidance for member schools.
NCAA Sports Medicine Handbook