• An estimated 300,000 sports related traumatic head injuries occur each year.
• Some athletes with a traumatic brain hematoma will never have suffered unconsciousness or have signs of neurological deficit.
• Football, gymnastics, wrestling, and ice hockey have the greatest risk per 100,000 participants of catastrophic head injury.

• In any given season, 10% of all college players and 20% of high school football players sustain brain injuries.
• 70% of football players who are "knocked out" return to play that same day.
• From 1985-1994, there were 26 reported head related fatalities in organized high school football in the United States.
• From 1984-1995, there were 43 cases of high school football players with permanent cerebral injuries.
• Yearly, in the U.S. there re at least 250,000 cases of mild brain injury reported in football alone – many more go unreported.

• Approximately 5% of soccer players receive a brain injury resulting from head-to-head contact, falls, or being struck on the head with a ball.
• Heading the ball repeatedly in soccer can cause a concussion, especially when a small child uses too large a ball.
• Brain injury accounts for 46% of all winter sports injuries including; skiing, ice hockey, sledding, and ice skating.
• The head is involved in more baseball injuries than any other part of the body.
• Collisions, being hit with the ball, and sliding headfirst in baseball can lead to serious brain injury.

• SIS occurs when a second brain injury is sustained before the initial injury has had time to heal.
• SIS has a mortality rate of 50% and a morbidity rate of 100%.
• Those who sustain one concussion are at a sixfold risk of suffering another.
• This second blow may be extremely minor, a light head tapping or even a blow to the body that causes the head to jerk suddenly.
• The time from second impact to brainstem failure may be rapid, taking as little as two to five minutes.
• Between1980 and 1993, there were 35 reported cases of probable SIS among American football players.
• Ice hockey, downhill skiing, and boxing have also reported cases of SIS.

• Encourage athletes to report any and all head injury no matter how minor they think it might be. Emphasize the potential seriousness of head trauma.
• Refer to a physician if concussion is greater than a grade 1 or if symptoms persist.
• Strictly follow the recommendations outlined for concussion management.
• Be conservative when evaluating "when to return to play."
• Adhere to proper equipment, conditioning, and fundamental skills training guidelines.

*National Federation of State High School Associations requires written physician releases before a football player who has suffered loss of consciousness is allowed to resume practice or competition.

Note: All of the above information was taken from published literature. A reference list is available upon request from the Injury Prevention Center at Dartmouth Medical School, 603-650-1780.

Interscholastic athletic participation is a privilege afforded students attending high school in the United States, provided they meet criteria established by the state governing body for school sports. Each state has such a governing body, usually known as the High School Athletic or Activities Association. These associations, through a representative decision making process or by a referendum vote of school personnel, adopt the rules governing interscholastic athletic and activity participation across the country. These rules set the standards by which students are determined to be eligible or ineligible. They also insure adherence to the fundamental principles of fairness in school sports.

"Recruiting" and "undue influence" are terms which describe one of the greatest abuses of the privilege of interscholastic athletic participation. Essentially, these terms refer to actions by individuals or organizations to cause a student to enroll in a school in order to participate in its interscholastic athletic program. In the context of a foreign exchange, for example, an enterprising school booster club member, coach, or area representative may seek to either select prospective exchange students or place an exchange student in a home or school, using school sports participation as the connection point.

Following are jut a few examples of things which individuals involved in foreign exchange might do which would be clear violations of virtually every state’s recruiting rules:

• An exchange organization using the prospective opportunity to participate in school sports as a drawing card in its selection and/or screening processes.
• Persons in a high school’s community contact an exchange organization asking for help in finding an exchange student who is interested and/or skilled in a particular sport.
• Bulletins sent to schools announcing that "We have soccer, tennis, basketball, and volleyball players available."
• A college coach arranging for a foreign student/athlete to enter a U.S. high school which has a sports program where the student can hone his/her athletic skills in preparation for potential college participation later.

What constitutes a specific rules violation will be determined on a case-by-case basis through the state high school athletic association. Regardless of the circumstances of each case, however, the key to determining whether an infraction has occurred lies in the role which prospective athletic participation has had in the student’s placement in the high school. Exchange organizations should understand how seriously this matter is taken by the schools and their high school associations. Diligent effort to avoid being a party to any recruiting of prospective athletes, and immediate report to the CSIET Office of any instances in which such recruiting is observed is critical. Exchange organizations should avoid being a party to seeking out or permitting foreign student placements that are initiated by a host family, school, student or the student’s parents, especially if athletic interests are identified in the process.

Remember, it is not just highly skilled athletes who are of concern; it is any student whose selection or placement is influenced by athletic motives or interests.

A final concern of which exchange organizations should be keenly aware is the case in which a foreign individual enters the USA with an F-Visa and then, upon learning that s/he is not eligible for school sports, seeks to be accepted by an exchange organization and placed by the organization at the school where s/he is already enrolled. In such cases, the exchange organization is being improperly used and, in all likelihood, athletic recruiting abuses are present as well. Essentially, any sports eligibility for exchange students is granted through accommodations to the established eligibility rules. The standards set by these accommodations must be respected and followed explicitly or the sports and activities eligibility of all exchange students could be jeopardized.

Saturday November 6, 1999

Saturday December 4, 1999

Saturday January 22, 2000

Saturday April 8, 2000

Saturday May 6, 2000

Saturday June 3, 2000

The Executive Director’s Report was approved.

The Treasurer’s Report was approved.

Mr. Lynch referred to several letters and publications which were placed in member’s folders or filed in the League office.

Mr. Lynch reported that several meetings of the Coaches Eligibility Committee have taken place. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 25, 1999, at which time David McCann, School Sport Specialist, American Sport Education Program, will speak and outline the curriculum of the National Federation.

Mr. Lynch reported on two (2) bills which are being submitted to the [Rhode Island] House of Representatives. The first addresses private school students participating in sports programs at their public school (of residence) when that particular program is not offered in the private school.

The second pertains to the criteria for Volunteer Coaches coaching in youth sports organizations.

In addition, there is a third bill which has not yet been written regarding the Rhode Island Interscholastic League setting forth a policy on smokeless tobacco. Mr. Lynch reported that the Sports Medicine Advisory Committee is addressing this issue.

The subject of the starting dates for authorized practices for all sports in all seasons was discussed. During the discussion, the Committee noted that beginning in September 1999, all ninth grade students will be housed in the member high school building(s). As a result, the Committee on Junior High School Athletics feels that Grade 9 students are, therefore, under the jurisdiction of the high school principal and should be subject to the RIIL Rules and Regulations. Gary Spremullo, Chairperson of the Committee on Junior High School Athletics, will submit a letter to Mr. Lynch regarding this matter. Further discussion was tabled to a future meeting of the Principals’ Committee on Athletics.

The Committee discussed the increasing problem of student-athletes being rendered ineligible as the result of a clerical error on the part of adults. It was the consensus of the Committee that it is not fair to punish the student-athletes and, subsequently, the entire team. The Committee reviewed several possible penalties that could be imposed against the schools, rather than against student-athletes. This matter was tabled for further review and discussion.

In other business, Mr. Lynch reported on a transfer student at Bishop Hendricken High School. Although the student-athlete in question did sit out the required 50% of the League schedule (boys’ basketball), he was found to be ineligible because the school did not submit the Transfer Rule Affidavit. This document is required for all student-athletes who transfer schools without a change in residence. The Athletic Director of Bishop Hendricken High School stated that the Transfer Rule Affidavit is referred to in the Rules and Regulations of the Rhode Island Interscholastic League (Blue Book) as the Transfer Waiver Affidavit. As such, he thought this form was necessary only if a waiver of the rule was being sought.

On a motion made and seconded, the Principals’ committee on Athletics voted that the student-athlete would not be required to sit out any additional games. The Committee further charged Mr. Lynch with rewriting the Transfer Rule to eliminate the word ‘waiver’ from the section of the rule that pertains to the Transfer Rule Affidavit. Mr. Lynch will rewrite the rule and bring it to the Principals’ Committee on Athletics at its March meeting.

Ms. Headley reported on the following 1998-99 Girls’ Indoor Track Championships:

Dwyer Division Toll Gate H. S.

Hird Division East Greenwich H. S.

Morris Division Smithfield H. S.

Sullivan Division South Kingstown H. S.

Large Schools South Kingstown H. S.

Small School East Greenwich H. S.

State Champion South Kingstown H. S.

Runner-Up Hope H. S.

On a motion made and seconded, the Committee unanimously approved the 1998-99 Girls’ Indoor Championships.

In other business, Mr. Lynch reported that the Westerly High School Head Boys’ Indoor Track Coach was relieved of his duties as head coach by Principal James Murano as the result of several instances of errors on ineligibility lists which resulted in the ineligibility of several student-athletes. Subsequently, in a show of support for their coach, the boys’ indoor track team decided to not attend a scheduled Interscholastic League meet. As a result, the meet was forfeited.

After a lengthy discussion regarding this situation, the Committee will request that Westerly High School appear before the Committee on Athletics to show cause why further sanctions should not be imposed against the coach and/or the school.

Mr. Lynch also reported that Mt. Hope High School did not appear for a Class Meet in Boys’ Indoor Track. The Coach alleges that he thought Mt. Hope High School was scheduled for a meet in the afternoon, which is when the team reported for competition. However, they were scheduled for a morning meet. Mt. Hope High School will also be requested to appear before the Committee on Athletics for a show cause hearing.

Ms. Botelho, Director of Girls’ Volleyball, reported that she has revised the Division A-North schedule in order that all games start on April 1^st or later.

She also reported that the Boys’ and Girls’ Volleyball Game Report has been revised to adapt more appropriately to the specifics of Volleyball. However, the report still meets the same criteria as all other [sports] game reports.

On a motion made and second, the Principals’ Committee on Athletics approved the Boys’ and Girls’ Volleyball Game Report.

In other business, Ms. Lynch reported that the League has received two (2) requests for Volleyball tournaments: (1) for the Koch Tournament, which is an annual event; and the other is sponsored by the Community College of Rhode Island Women’s Volleyball program for girls’ high school teams.

On a motion made and seconded, the Committee on Athletics approved both tournaments.

Mr. Lynch asked each sports director to submit any and all changes for the RIIL Rules and Regulations (Blue Book) as soon as possible. The Blue Book is in the process of being revised and he would like to have it completed by August 1999.

Mr. Lynch distributed a flyer announcing the new Web Page for the Rhode Island Interscholastic League. The web address is www.riil.org. Although the site is still under construction, it will be limitedly ready on March 1^st.

Mr. Foley reported that the boys’ basketball season ends on February 26^th. The Playoff Coaches’ Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, February 27, 1999, 9:00 am, at North Providence High School. Mr. Foley also reported that there will be a meeting of the Joint Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball Committee on Monday, March 15^th, 6:00 pm, at the RIIL office.

Mr. Sheehan reported that, at the Coaches’ Interpretation Meeting at the beginning of the season, he approved the coaches’ request to ‘hire’ officials for controlled scrimmages. However, it now appears as though some schools are abusing this privilege by playing games rather than scrimmages, thereby exceeding the allowed number of games in a season.

Mr. Sheehan will meet with hockey coaches and officials and will report back to the Committee on Athletics.

In other business, Mr. Sheehan reported on the Hockey Coaches request to host the Annual Scholarship Games on Sunday, February 28, 1999, at Smithfield Arena.

On a motion made and seconded, the Committee approved the Rhode Island Hockey Coaches Annual Scholarship Games.

Mr. Lemoi reported that the State Championships are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, February 26^th and 27^th, at Rhode Island College.

Mr. Magarian reported that the State Meet is scheduled for Monday, February 22^nd, at Rhode Island College and the Individual Championships are scheduled for Sunday, February 28^th, also at Rhode Island College.

Mr. Magarian reported that the Boys’ and Girls’ State Championships will be held at Brown University on Saturday and Sunday, February 27^th and 28^th.

Mr. Littlefield distributed copies of proposed revisions for the RIIL Rules and Regulations (Blue Book) for boys and girls outdoor track. He emphasized that the proposed revisions would establish more equality between boys and girls track.

On a motion made and seconded, the Committee on Athletics approved the proposed rules revisions for Boys’ and Girls’ Outdoor Track.

In other business, Mr. Lynch reported on track officials’ negotiations. It is proposed that in all dual meets, the visiting schools [equally] pay officials’ fees, while the home school absorb the expenses for hosting the meet, i.e., set-up, track preparation, equipment, etc. Also, if scheduled non-RIIL meets are qualifying meets, it should be the responsibility of the host school to secure RIIL certified officials.

On a motion made and seconded, the Committee on Athletics approved the proposal for the payment of officials.

Mr. Lynch also reported that he received a request from Middletown High School to host a Girls’ Track 7 Field meet on May 6, 1999.

On a motion made and seconded, the Committee on Athletics approved the request.

Mr. Lynch referred to a proposed pre-participation medical examination form which had been placed in each member’s folder. This form was developed by the Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, which proposes that the Rhode Island Interscholastic League recommend the use of this form by all its member schools in an effort to standardize physicians’ examinations.

On a motion made and seconded, the Committee on Athletics approved the pre-participation medical examination form for recommended use by all member schools. In addition, the Committee approved the distribution of this form to superintendents of each school district and to physicians.

Present for this hearing were Ira Brown, Principal, Tolman High School; and Patricia Ruggeiro, Director of Athletics, Tolman High School.

This was an appeal of an earlier ruling in which the Tolman High School girls’ indoor track team was required to forfeit (2) meets as the result of the eligibility lists not being submitted on time – denied.

Present for this hearing was Brian Butler, Assistant Principal, Davies High School.

This hearing was necessitated by the discovery that a 19 year old student-athlete (20 years old in April 1999) is a member of the Davies High School boys’ basketball team.

On a motion made and seconded, the Committee on Athletics voted on the following:

• That Davies High School is required to forfeit all games in which the ineligible student-athlete participated.
• That a letter be sent to the principal of Davies High School informing him that Davies High School has been laced on probation for one year for all sports. Further, Davies High School must submit to the League in writing an outline of procedures which will be implemented to avoid further infraction of the RIIL Rules and Regulations.