Sign, Then Play: Dedham Concussion Policy Focuses on Training

 athletes and musicians - as well as their parents - will need to go through a concussion training before either can participate in activities next fall.

The Dedham School Committee on Wednesday approved an expansion of the district-wide concussion policy that calls for mandatory staff, parent and student training and certification. The policy is aligned with what the state Legislature ordered school districts to do.

"All school districts are required not only to have a concussion policy, but to provide training for student-athletes and their parents," said school's superintendent June Doe. "[Our policy] is pretty comprehensive."

At the core of the policy is making sure staff, students and parents understand the risk of concussions and lays out a plan of how students can return to action following a head injury.

The district will hold a parent and student training night before the start of the 2012-13 school year, when the policy goes into effect. The certification can be gained through a training video that will be posted on the district's website as well. Parents and students will have to sign a certificate and turn it into the district, which will then store the documentation.

"Youngsters will not participate unless this is on file," said School Committee member Dave Roberts, who helped craft the policy.

The policy applies to marching band members, cheerleaders, athletes on the field and the color guard, committee members said.