It's now law in Minnesota that if young athletes show signs of a concussion, coaches must sideline them until they can get a medical all-clear.

A concussion is a brain injury caused by a bump or blow to the head that can change the way your brain normally works. Even what seems to be a mild bump or blow to the head can be serious.

To help ensure the health and safety of our young athletes, the Centers for Disease Control developed the Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports initiative to offer information about concussions to coaches, parents, and athletes involved in youth sports.

The Heads Up initiative provides important information on preventing, recognizing, and responding to a concussion. 

Chaska Chanhassen Football Association (CCFA) will make information available to coaches, parents and athletes to aide their understanding of this important topic. Information regarding the risks and symptoms of concussions as well as our return to play procedures will be made available to everyone via our website. In addition, we will require our coaches to receive initial training on concussions and to repeat that training at least every three years.

Most importantly, any athlete who exhibits signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussions (such as the loss of consciousness, headache, dizziness, confusion, or balance problems) shall be immediately removed from the contest and shall not return to play until cleared by an appropriate health care professional (experienced in evaluating and managing concussions).

If an athlete is removed from play because they are showing signs or symptoms of a concussion, Minnesota's Concussion Law requires they receive written authorization from a medical professional to return to play. Please provide a doctor's note to your head coach, once your athlete has been cleared.

CCFA recommends that all athletes get baseline testing for all athletes, ages 11+, during the 2011-12 sport seasons.

It is recommended that youth athletes submit a new baseline test every 2 years.

CCFA works with Two Tewlve Clinic in Chaska administer ImPACT baseline testing. If your son or daughter has participated in CCFA baseline testing program, their results will be archived in a confidential database at the 212 Ridgeview Concussion Clinic. Should your athlete sustain a head injury, they do not have to be treated at Ridgeview. Please use the contact information below to have your child's ImPACT baseline results sent directly to your health care provider.

Two Twelve Medical Center
111 Hundertmark Road
Chaska, MN 55318

952-361-2447