• Sports Medicine Guidelines

    Dan Kropf, MS, LAT, ATC, PES – kropfd@muhlsdk12.net

    Ashley Care, MS, LAT, ATC- carea@muhlsdk12.net

       Athletic Participation Requirements

    • All athletes must have:
      • A completed PIAA Physical Packet
        • Muhlenberg will only accept the PIAA physical packet for sport participation, all other physical forms will be denied
    • Athletic paperwork takes 24 hours to process, if the athlete hands in their required forms after the regular season has begun they may participate the following day as long as the paperwork is correctly completed (i.e. no missing signatures, appropriate dates, emergency information, etc). 
    • All physicals forms will be completed online through Planet High School, links to sign up for Planet HS and Physicals are in the "For the Athletes" and "For the Parents" link, as well as a link to the PIAA Physical form that will need to be completed by a physician, and then a parent/guardian will upload that physical to Planet HS.
    • If an athlete requires an inhaler, epi-pen, insulin, or any other life-saving device/equipment, they MUST have it present at practices/games/matches to participate

      Athletic Injury Procedures 

    • Each Coach shall verify with the Athletic Trainer(s) that each athlete is cleared BEFORE participation begins. In order to be cleared each athlete must have a completed PIAA physical and Muhlenberg COVID waiver.
    •  In the event of any injury, the coach will be responsible for immediately contacting the Athletic Trainer(s).
    •   If the Athletic Trainer is not available, it is the coach’s responsibility to see that the injured player receives the necessary first aid and emergency care. Do what is necessary, but do not go beyond your training or what is expected of you! If an athlete is seriously injured, that coach will be responsible for immediately calling for an ambulance.
    •  Any athlete that has sustained an injury must meet the following criteria to return to practice:
      • Strength: 90% compared to non-injured side
      •  Range of motion: 90% compared to non-injured side
      • Pain level: 0-2/10
    • If an athlete sees a physician/doctor/dentist for any reason, a note for return to activity is required to the Athletic Trainers for participation of sports.

        Athletic Injury Emergency Plan

    •    In the event of an injury, the coach will be responsible for contacting the Athletic Trainer.
    •    In the event that any athlete is in serious need of emergency care, the coach must immediately contact the Athletic Trainer(s) or 9-1-1. Try to stay calm and reassure the athlete. Do not move the athlete unless absolutely necessary.
    •   If an athlete has an obvious medical emergency or life-threatening injury, send an assistant to the nearest phone to call 9-1-1 and give the following information:
      •   Your name
      •   Your location
        •     400 Sharp Ave. Reading PA 19605 (High School)
        •     610 Sharp Ave. Reading PA 19605 (Middle School)
          •   Field location
        •    4899 Stoudts Ferry Bridge Road Reading PA 19605 (Jim Dietrich Park)
      •   Nature of emergency
      •   Phone number you are calling from
      •   Locate the nearest AED
    •    Once EMS has been activated, the following individuals must be contacted:
      •   Athletic Trainers- Dan Kropf and Kelsey Reich
      •   Parent or Guardian
      •   Athletic Director – Dr. Tim Moyer
    •         Athletic Training Room Procedures
    •  Athletic Training Room Rules
      •   No one is permitted in the Athletic Training Room without the Athletic Trainer, Coach, or Alvernia Athletic Training Student
      •   Self sign-in on the computer .is required upon entering the Athletic Training Room
      •   No horseplay or offensive language is allowed
      •   Office is off-limits to athletes
      •   All prohibited school policy items and tobacco, food, glass bottles, and cans are not allowed in the Athletic Training Room.
    •    General Procedures
      •   The coach is responsible for acquiring and returning the medical kit before and after each season
      •   Assigned water coolers and bottles must be taken to practice/game and returned daily.
      •   Once an injured athlete has sought professional care from the Athletic Trainer(s), the only way that the athlete can return to play is with written or verbal permission from the Athletic Trainer(s). If the athlete sought professional care from a physician, the only way that the athlete can return to play is with written permission from the physician. The physician overrules the Athletic Trainer(s) and the Athletic Trainer overrules the coach.
      •   Always remember RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) for basic first aid care to any joint or muscle.
      •   Athletes with asthma should have an extra inhaler in the medical kit. Athletes who are allergic to insect bites or have any other type of allergy should have their epi-pen in the medical kit as well. Athletes who are diabetic should have the medication available.
      •  Coaches must have their cell phone, medical kit, water cooler, bottles, and emergency contact information for all athletes available at all times. If you do not have a cell phone, know where the nearest phone is located.
      •   Athletes with new injuries that need to be evaluated by the Athletic Trainer(s) shall wait until all of the athletes that are cleared to play receive their treatment. Athletes who have a home or away game will be given priority.
      •   If there is any doubt regarding an athlete’s participation status, the coach should contact the Athletic Trainer(s) immediately. The athlete should not participate until the status is known. 
    •   Thunder/Lightning Procedures
    • Any subsequent thunder or lightning after the beginning of the 30 minute count, rest the clock and another 30 minutes count should begin
    •  Thirty-minute rule. Once play has been suspended, wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder is heard or flash of lightning is witnessed prior to resuming play.
    •   When thunder is heard or lightning is seen, the thunderstorm is close enough to strike you location. Suspend play and take shelter.

       Concussion Procedures

    •  Any athlete that suffers a concussion must be cleared by a licensed physician. The clearance must be on Section 9 and given to the Athletic Trainer(s)
    • Once the athlete has Section 9 completed, the athlete MUST go through the 5-day progression to return to sport with the Athletic Trainer(s) BEFORE being cleared to play without restrictions.
    • The Muhlenberg Sports Medicine staff used the following return-to-play protocol:
      •   Day 1: Full day of normal cognitive activities and walking at school without return of signs or symptoms. Introduce light aerobic exercise- 15-20 minutes on stationary bike, no weight lifting, resistance training, or any other exercises.
      •   Day 2: Moderate aerobic exercise – 20-30 minutes on elliptical
      •   Day 3: Moderate aerobic exercise – 20 minutes on the treadmill; walk 2 minutes, run 2 minutes, this should be done in intervals for the duration of 20 minutes
      •  Day 4: Non-contact practice and normal training activities
      •  Day 5: Clearance to participate in full practices/physical education classes
      •   Day 6: Released!
      •  Each athlete will begin with Day 1 if any symptoms return during the activity, the athlete will stop the activity immediately and return to the athletic training room the next day. If the athlete is symptom free, the athlete must wait a full 24 hours before attempting Day 1 again. The athlete cannot progress to the next day in the cycle until passing the previous day.