D229 Adopts More Stringent Student Athletic Policies

In addition to paying sports participation fees, student athletes at Oak Lawn Community High School will now have to undergo a baseline test of their normal athletic abilities before being allowed on the field or court.

Before students will even have the opportunity to play sports, they will have to undergo a baseline test of their normal athletic abilities.

The baseline test is part of recent changes in the high school’s athletic program, specifically policies for students who suffer a concussion while playing sports.

The high school has teamed up with ImPact, a provider of computerized neurocognitive assessment tools.

Student athletes who are injured during play will now need formal consent from a health care profession, the school trainer and pass a baseline test. If students cannot meet their “pre-injury” level of play, he or she cannot participate in school sports.

Athletic Director Will Dwyer reminded the D229 school board of recent changes in the athletic program, specifically the school’s policies for students who suffer a concussion while playing sports.

 “Nothing we ever do is trying to prevent the first concussion. If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen,” Dwyer said. “The bad ones [concussions] are the third or fourth occurrences.”