MEDICAL LINKS
NCAA Banned Drugs List
Cardiac Fact Sheet
Concussion Fact Sheet
Sickle Cell Trait Fact Sheet
ATHLETIC TRAINING ROOM RULES
The athletic training room is designed to provide care for Nicholls athletes. It is a place to prepare for practice and play and not a place to get out of practice or class. It should be considered a medical facility, an extension of the team physician’s office. The following rules apply:
Please contact your athletic trainer to make an appointment for treatment before showing up to the training room.
Only those people needing treatments or taping will be allowed in the athletic training room.
Because both men and women use the athletic training room, appropriate attire consists of shirts and shorts for both men and women.
Use of cell phones are prohibited in the athletic training rooms.
Unruly behavior and foul language will not be tolerated.
No cleated shoes or athletic equipment is allowed in the athletic training room.
After practice, a shower is required prior to treatments.
Ice from the ice machine is to be used for treatments only.
Modality machines are to be operated by qualified staff only.
Tobacco products are prohibited.
Items are to be taken from the athletic training room only with the athletic training staff’s permission.
Computers and telephones are for staff use only.
No food or drinks will be allowed in the athletic training room.
ATHLETIC INSURANCE
Nicholls mandates that all student-athletes provide proof of primary health insurance coverage. Student-athletes will not be permitted to participate in practice or competition until proper medical insurance information is submitted. Athletics insurance coverage is of a secondary nature and is payable only after family or group insurance has paid its portion. If for some reason, the student-athlete is dropped from his/her family primary insurance policy or there is a lapse in coverage on that student-athlete, the Nicholls Athletics Department must be notified immediately. Nicholls Athletics will not be held responsible for any financial obligations resulting from termination or lapse in coverage of the family or individual primary coverage. Parents may purchase an insurance policy by contacting the head athletic trainer. Athletics insurance (secondary in nature) is only for injuries that result from athletic practice or contests. It will not cover accidents in the dorm, on campus, or an illness suffered by an athlete.
LIABILITY FOR INSURANCE COVERAGE
Claims must be filed within 30 days of an injury and processed within 12 months, or the Athletics Department may no longer claim reimbursement for injury.
PHYSICALS
All student-athletes must have a pre-participation physical examination before practicing or competing. Nicholls will sponsor pre-participation physicals with team physicians before the fall semester. Failure to attend the physical examinations will result in the student-athlete being responsible for scheduling and any financial obligations. Student-athletes will not be allowed to participate in practice or competition until proper documents are filed with the head athletic
trainer.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION AND SCREENING PROGRAM
The objectives of the Nicholls Substance Abuse Prevention and Screening Program are:
To educate student-athletes concerning the physical, psychological and social effects of drug and alcohol abuse
To identify through periodic testing those student-athletes who may be involved in drug or alcohol abuse
To provide a counseling and rehabilitation program
DRUG TESTING
Drug testing will be performed on Nicholls student-athletes on an annual basis in accordance with NCAA policies. Student-athletes may also be tested on a regular basis when there is cause to believe that testing is warranted due to reasonable suspicion (example- DUI, any signs and or symptoms of possible drug use). Testing may also be performed “for cause” at the discretion of the head athletic trainer and in consultation with coaches and administrators. Student-athletes will be selected randomly for testing. These student-athletes will be required to provide a urine sample under the strict supervision of personnel selected by the head athletic trainer or a representative of the NCAA. Student-athletes may have a witness accompany them to certify identification and to monitor the proceedings.Â
A sample will be analyzed for presence of drugs banned by the NCAA. Student-athletes mustÂ
refer to the complete list of banned drugs in the NCAA manual or the NCAA website. All positive tests will be reported to the head athletics trainer who will contact the respective
head coach and notify the director of athletics. Refusal to participate and comply with the drug testing procedures will be treated as a positive test result.
NUTRITIONAL – DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS POLICY
Caution: Nutritional/ dietary supplements may contain NCAA banned substances. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not strictly regulate the supplement industry; therefore, purity and safety of nutritional/dietary supplements cannot be guaranteed. Impure supplements may lead to a positive NCAA drug test. The use of supplements is at the student-athlete’s own risk. Student-athletes must inform the Athletic Training Department before ingesting any supplement. Please contact the head athletic trainer with any questions or needs for further information regarding nutritional-dietary supplement usage.
TEAM PHYSICIANS
Injuries that require the service of a physician will be referred through the athletic training room. Should medical services be required, athletes will be referred for these specialized treatments or tests. Before going off campus for any office visit, treatment, or diagnostic test all student athletes must get an authorization form from a member of the athletic training staff. Tests, services, treatment or second opinions obtained by student-athletes not approved by the athletic training staff will be done so at the athlete’s expense. The Nicholls Athletics Department will not be financially responsible for such tests or services that have not been referred by Nicholls medical staff.
SECOND OPINION POLICY
The Nicholls Athletics Department acknowledges that it is the student-athletes right to seek medical services and second opinions outside the Nicholls network. If outside network services are sought without prior referral or authorization, the Nicholls Athletics Department is not financially obligated to reimburse for office visits, diagnostic exams, laboratory services, surgeries, follow-up care, or rehabilitation-physical therapy services.
STUDENT HEALTH CENTER
The Nicholls Student Health Center exists to assist the all students, including student-athletes, for non-athletic related illnesses. Student-athletes should contact the athletic trainers to make appointments. All student-athletes will need to take referral forms with them to their appointments and return them to the athletic training staff after the appointment.
INJURIES AND ILLNESSES
Athletes should report all injuries or illnesses immediately to the athletic trainers or their coach if an athletic trainer is not available. If not reported during practice or game, any problems should be reported immediately after such an event. If athletes discover an injury after hours or become ill after hours, they should report to the training room by 8 a.m. the following morning. The athletic training room will help facilitate non-athletic injuries or illnesses, but student-athletes
may be responsible for the medical charges.
PRE-EXISTING INJURIES
The Nicholls Athletics Department will not be obligated to cover medical costs resulting from injuries related to a pre-existing injury.
PREVENTING SKIN INFECTIONS
Staphylococcus aureus is a common bacteria carried on the skin and in the nose. This is a common cause of skin infection. While most staph infections are minor, some, such as metchicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), can become serious because they are resistant to antibiotics usually used to treat them. Symptoms vary, depending on the part of the body infected and may include redness, swelling and tenderness. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer these tips for athletes on how to prevent MRSA or similar staph skin infections:
Cover all wounds. If a wound cannot be covered adequately, consider excluding players with potentially infectious skin lesions from practice or competitions until the lesions are healed or can be covered adequately
Encourage good hygiene, including showering and washing with soap after all practices and competitions
Ensure adequate availability of soap and hot water
Discourage sharing of towels and personal items
Establish routine cleaning schedules for shared equipment
Encourage athletes to report skin lesions to athletic trainers and encourage athletic trainers to assess athletes regularly for skin lesions
EATING DISORDER POLICY
The Nicholls Athletics Department acknowledges that eating disorders are common in today’s society, especially in competitive athletics. Nicholls has a referral process in place to assist the students who need them. Student-athletes should contact the head athletic trainer with questions or concerns. All meetings, consultations, and referrals are of a confidential nature.
PRESCRIPTIONS
Medicine prescribed by the team physician for athletic injuries should be obtained through the Athletics Training Department. Personal prescriptions may not be charged to the Athletics Department account. Prescriptions for illness or injury not related to an athletic injury are the responsibility of the individual athlete. The head athletic trainer must approve all prescriptions. All student-athletes who are regularly prescribed medications should inform the athletic trainer.
SUPPLIES
Athletic training room supplies may be provided for the use of athletes. These are LOANED to student-athletes and are expected to be returned to the athletic training room when the items are no longer needed. Knee and ankle braces, knee sleeves, thigh supports, etc. are to be returned at the end of each season. They will be laundered or replaced and will be available at the beginning of the next season. Items such as crutches and Cryo-cuffs will be issued on a signout policy only. Failure to return items will result in the athlete being indebted to the University for replacement costs.
WALK-ON – TRYOUT POLICY
Students wishing to walk on or try out for intercollegiate athletics will be required to submit proof of current primary insurance. They will also need to obtain a valid pre-participation physical examination. The Nicholls Athletics Department will not be responsible for scheduling appointments or be financially obligated for pre-participation physical exams for walk-ons.
CONTACT LENSES
Contact lenses will be replaced if they are lost during practice or a contest. Loss of a contact lens must be reported to an athletic trainer at the time it is lost. Replacement of contact lenses will be facilitated if the prescription for the lenses is on file with the athletic trainers. All studentathletes who require contact lenses should inform their athletic trainer in order to supply them with an extra set.
DENTAL WORK
Nicholls is responsible for dental injuries that occur during a practice or contest. This responsibility may be void if athletes fail to wear or drastically alter oral protection provided by the Athletics Department. A dental injury must be reported to the athletic trainer at the time it occurs. The Athletics Department is in no way responsible for routine dental exams, dental
repair, or dental cleanings. The athletic trainers may choose to help arrange for a dental appointment. This, however, does not constitute financial responsibility on the part of the Athletics Department. Please be prepared to pay dental bills at the time of treatment.
TOBACCO PRODUCTS
As per NCAA Bylaw 17.1.9, the use of tobacco products by a student-athlete is prohibited during practice and competition. A student-athlete who uses tobacco products during a practice or competition shall be disqualified for the remainder of the practice or competition.
CONCUSSION MANAGEMENT PLAN
1. Nicholls will require all student-athletes to sign a statement in which the student-athletes accept the responsibility for reporting their injuries and illnesses to the sports medicine staff, including signs and symptoms of concussions. During the review and signing process student-athletes will watch a video on concussions and be provided with educational material on concussions.
2. Nicholls will have on file and annually update an emergency action plan for each athletics venue to respond to student-athlete catastrophic injuries and illnesses, including but not limited to concussions, heat illness, spine injury, cardiac arrest, respiratory distress (e.g. asthma), and sickle cell trait collapses.
3. Nicholls sports medicine staff members shall be empowered to have the unchallengeable authority to determine management and return-to-play of any ill or injured student-athlete, as he or she deems appropriate. Conflicts or concerns should be forwarded to Tyler Trahan (Head Athletic Trainer), Matt Roan (Athletics Director), and a Nicholls team physician for resolution.
4. Nicholls coaches will receive a copy of the concussion management plan, a fact sheet on concussions in sport, view a video on concussions, and sign a concussion acknowledgement form annually.
5. Nicholls shall have on file a written team physician–directed concussion management plan that specifically outlines the roles of athletics healthcare staff (e.g. physician, certified athletic trainer, nurse practitioner, physician assistant).
6. Nicholls sports medicine staff members and other athletics healthcare providers will practice within the standards as established for their professional practice (e.g., team physician, certified athletic trainer, physical therapist, nurse practitioner, physician assistant).
7. Nicholls shall record a baseline assessment for each student-athlete in the sports of baseball, basketball, football, pole vaulting, soccer, and softball, at a minimum. In addition, a baseline assessment will be recorded for student-athletes with a known history of concussion. The same baseline assessment tools should be used post-injury at appropriate time intervals. The baseline assessment should consist of the use of: 1) symptoms checklist, 2) X2 - SCAT5 neuropsychological testing (computerized NeuroCom).
8. When a student-athlete shows any signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion, the athlete will be removed from practice or competition, by either a member of the coaching staff or sports medicine staff. If removed by a coaching staff member, the coach will refer the student-athlete for evaluation by a member of the sports medicine staff. During competitions, on the field of play injuries will be under the view of the official and playing rules of the sport. Nicholls staff will follow such rules and attend to medical situations as they arise. An athlete with worsening symptoms, especially worsening headache, nausea or vomiting, increased confusion, garbled speech, trouble using arms or legs, convulsions, seizure, or loss of consciousness should be transported to the emergency room. Visiting sport team members evaluated by Nicholls sports medicine staff will be managed in the same manner as Nicholls student-athletes.
9. A student-athlete diagnosed with a concussion will be withheld from the competition or practice and not return to activity for the remainder of that day. Student-athletes that sustain a concussion outside of their sport will be managed in the same manner as those sustained during sport activity.
10. The student-athlete will receive serial monitoring for deterioration. Athletes will be provided with written home instructions upon discharge; preferably with a roommate, guardian, or someone that can follow the instructions.
11. The student-athlete will be monitored for recurrence of symptoms both from physical exertion and also mental exertion, such as reading, computer games, watching film, athletic meetings, working on a computer, classroom work, or taking a test. Academic advisors and professors will be notified of student-athlete’s concussion, with permission for release of information from the student-athlete.
12. The student-athlete will be evaluated by a team physician as outlined within the concussion management plan. Once asymptomatic and post-exertion assessments are within normal baseline limits, return to play shall follow a medically supervised stepwise process.
13. Final authority for Return-to-Play shall reside with the team physician or the physician’s designee as noted in the concussion management flowchart.
14. Nicholls will document the incident, evaluation, continued management, and clearance of the student-athlete with a concussion.
15. Athletics staff, student-athletes and officials will continue to emphasize that purposeful or flagrant head or neck contact in any sport should not be permitted.
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