All agree on trainers; now to find funds

CHAPEL HILL -- The N.C. High School Athletic Association Board of Directors voted Wednesday to build a coalition to figure out how to implement a recommendation that would require all state high schools to have certified athletic trainers.

The NCHSAA had appointed a task force to make recommendations to the board after two high school football players died from traumatic head injuries this season.

Instead of approving the recommendations, though, the board instructed Charlie Adams, the NCHSAA executive director, to arrange a meeting with representatives from the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, the State Board of Education, the N.C. School Boards Association and the N.C. Association of School Administrators to discuss how to get certified trainers in each school. Finding a way to pay for the trainers was a key issue.

"Every person in the room supports the idea [of having certified athletic trainers]," Adams said. "But we eventually realized that this is something that affects several agencies.

"We'll be the lead dog and organize the effort, but we need to pull together."

Finding money will be one of the major tasks.

"What was the use of mandating something when you don't know where the money to pay for it is going to come from," said Bobby Guthrie, the Wake County athletic director and a board member.

Adams said he was uncomfortable with the NCHSAA mandating that member schools have a certified athletic trainer.

"Do we have that authority? I don't think so," Adams said.

The task force on head injuries made nine recommendations to the board on Tuesday.

The NCHSAA already has implemented six of them, including requiring that no athlete suspected of having a concussion be allowed to return to practice that day and that no athlete with a concussion can participate until a physician has given clearance.

The recommendations that have not been implemented are:

* Having a certified athletic trainer in each school.

* Requiring every athlete who plays lacrosse, soccer or football have preseason baseline testing. The test would include balance testing, a computerized neuropsychological test, a standard assessment for concussion and a graded symptom checklist.

* A mandatory education program for school athletic personnel. A presentation is expected to be prepared by the NCHSAA similar to a presentation the NCHSAA made on eligibility issues earlier this year.

"I'm sure some people in the medical field will be disappointed we didn't take more action today," Guthrie said. "But I think everyone of the board feels good about going in this direction."

In other action, the NCHSAA:

* Sanctioned boys and girls lacrosse for 2009-10.

* Moved the start of the 2009 basketball practice to Nov. 9 and allowed schools to play four games in a week if the fourth is on a non-school day. NCHSAA member schools now will be able to play in 16-team holiday tournaments

* Required students, coaches or administrators who are ejected from a contest to complete the STAR Sportsmanship program before returning to participation.

* Lowered the threshold for making teams ineligible for the playoffs for sportsmanship violations. A team is ineligible for the playoffs if it has three players or coaches ejected for fighting during a season or if it has four players or coaches ejected.

* Denied an appeal from Greenville Rose to change its conference placement beginning in 2009-10.