State High School Athletic Association seeks to keep athletes safe

It comes after three high school football players died since August. All three of those deaths came after practice or game-related incidents.

By: Abe Nelson | WNCT
Published: October 10, 2008

The State High School Athletic Association is making some big changes to keep athletes safe.

It comes after three high school football players died since August. All three of those deaths came after practice or game-related incidents.

On August 12th, Chapel Hill high school player Atlas Fraley died after feeling sick at practice. Just over a week later, Matt Gfeller from Winston-Salem died two days after taking a hit to the head in a game. Then three weeks ago, Juquan Waller from J.H. Rose high school in Greenville died after collapsing on the sideline. He had suffered a concussion two days earlier before being hit again in that game.

The North Carolina High School Athletic Association says student-athletes safety is at the forefront now more than ever.

"When you have three deaths in a short period of time in football in one state, people are concerned," said Fred Mueller, Director of Exercise and Sports Science at UNC.

That's why board members say it was imperative to make some immediate changes in the way emergencies are handled on the athletic fields. The board approved three recommendations today.

First, all schools must have an emergency plan in place for injured athletes. Second, they must verify with the board that their trainers are qualified to do the job. And finally, players with concussion symptoms will now need a doctor's written permission before they can play or practice.

Dr. Fred Mueller is a Professor of Exercise and Sports Science at UNC and says concussions aren't always taken as seriously as they should be. He says it's important for athletes to speak up when they're hurt and for coaches and trainers to listen.

Meanwhile, Dr. Kevin Guskiewicz, Chairman of the Department of Exercise and Sport Science at UNC, says diagnosing athletic injuries are a big reason he'd eventually wants every high school athletic program in the state to be required to have "certified" athletic trainers.

"We're putting a person in place that knows the injury…know how to manage the injury, and can refer the athlete to the right medical person," said Guskiewicz.