By Jon Moffett

By Jon Moffett

jmoffett@vindy.com

It’s one of the worst nightmares in high school athletics; when what is designed to be a contest of skill and sportsmanship turns into a deadly game with young people’s lives on the line.

Football is, by design, a violent game. Players and fans alike tend to cheer for powerful collisions and big hits. It’s natural, and it’s a part of the game.

But with big hits and powerful play come the ever increasing chance of big injury — or worse.

On Sept. 17, West Orange Stark High (Texas) senior quarterback Reggie Garrett Jr. collapsed on the sideline after throwing a touchdown pass. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital minutes later.

He was 17.

According to reports, Garrett had a history of seizures. But his collapsing and subsequent death after a routine play has sparked a national scrutiny of emergency plans in sports.

Athletic directors for several area high schools commented on their own plans, and how the incident in Texas only reaffirms their importance.

“It was a scary thing to hear about,” said Rob Conklin of Fitch. “But believe it or not, any injury is scary to me. So, something like that just takes the blood pressure level to a whole other universe.”

That fear was shared by Canfield’s Greg Cooper, who said the tragedy was both saddening and worrisome.

You just never know.

While Garrett’s example is rare, it is a stark reminder that administrators and coaches have to be ready for anything — essentially trying to control the uncontrollable.

“There is no such thing as a good-case scenario. These are young student athletes we’re talking about,” Cooper said. “Yes, things are going to happen. But we have to be prepared for that one in a million chance where something major can happen ... It’s something you always have to keep in the back of your mind.”

Conklin agreed.

“Prevention is key. You cannot, in any way, be negligent,” he said. “And the only way you can be negligent is if you just assume everything is going to be OK ... We’re dealing with someone else’s kids, and the parents put their trust in us to take care of these kids.”

The precautions vary depending on the school. But in its football manual for the 2010 season, the Ohio High School Athletic Association clearly outlines what is expected of coaches for emergency situations.

The first item under the OHSAA’s “Points of Emphasis” for this year is a hot button growing in the ranks of amateur and professional spots: concussions.

Perhaps now more than ever, coaches, trainers and administrators are being held accountable for the injuries. Professional sports and amateur athletics are focusing more on head trauma and its lingering effects.

Conklin said Fitch is using a relatively revolutionary system called ImPACT Concussion Management Program. The basis of the technology measures an athlete’s response time and neurological signs after a possible concussion.

“We have the program in place for all of our impact sports [including, but not limited to football] where all of our athletes are brought in and tested at the beginning of the year,” he said. “That way we have a baseline to go by.”

The tests can then measure and monitor any dissimilarities after a head injury.

Cooper, who is in his fifth year at Canfield, said he has noticed a greater awareness on the subject of concussions.

In order to prevent injuries the naked eye can’t see — such as Garrett’s seizures — the OHSAA has taken steps to detect any type of abnormal concern before an athlete takes the field or court.

“All of our athletes are required to have a yearly physical,” Cooper said. “The OHSAA has a four-page form on health information. We track those physical exam forms so if these kids want to play in a sport, we know if they have any type of medical condition ahead of time.”

But while it is key, Cooper admits that preparation can only take you so far. Sometimes action is required.

Which is why all coaches, full-time or volunteer, are required by the OSHAA to have at least a basic knowledge of first aid and treatment options.

“The OHSAA has mandated what are simply called coaches’ education class,” Conklin said. “All volunteers and full-time coaches must take this course. It’s a one-time deal, but there is a strong emphasis on having an emergency plan.”

Cooper said all coaches must also be registered, and current, in CPR training. They are also taught how to spot and recognized the symptoms for heat exhaustion, concussions and other ailments, he said.

Behind the coaches — or “front-line people” as Conklin called them — is a bevy of other help. Athletic trainers, EMTs, experts and in some case doctors also roam the sidelines just in case. An ambulance in the stadium is as normal a sight as a visiting school bus. And included in with the shoulder pads, helmets and other gear are walkie-talkies, automated external defibrillators and other medical equipment.

“As far as an injury on the field, our plan is simply two-fold,” Conklin said. “One, we’re going to confront any injury with total involvement of our medical staff. We have a full-time, certified athletic trainer, a board-approved physician and are very fortunate to have two other MDs as volunteers on our medical staff.”

The other approach, he said, is to avoid liability — another reason to be prepared, he said.

Cooper said Canfield has a contract with the Humility of Mary Health Partners to have licensed athletic trainers at all games, and many practices for contact sports. He added that local fire departments are usually present for many schools’ games if needed.

“We’re not the only ones, but if something occurs, we’ve tried to take advantage of the resources in the community,” he said. “You’ll have a doctor or a trainer out there immediately. And if needed, you have the local EMTs at your disposal within seconds.”

As well as with players, it is vital to keep all equipment and facilities in the same regard. What can be prepared for in terms of injury can also be done in terms of maintenance.

“If there is a loose board in one of the bleachers, it’s fixed the next day,” Conklin said. “No piece of equipment isn’t repaired immediately in the weight room.”

All that is fine and well when a team is at home. But Cooper said his biggest fears are when his team is on the road, because he cannot control the environment or what is available.

“I think probably the worst case scenario you could come up with would be where you are away at a different venue,” he said. “The home school generally assumes the responsibility for running their own events, so you can’t really dictate what sort of resources are available. Maybe they don’t have an ambulance, or a doctor.”

Conklin said with rising awareness comes more preparedness.

“You just have to have faith that the host school has everything in place the way you do,” he said. “You just have to have faith that your brothers and sisters in athletic administration are taking as many precautions and are being as diligent as you are.

“I think everyone is doing a pretty good job of it,” Conklin said. “And if they’re not, they’re toying with disaster.”