Total cognitive and physical rest, also called the complete rest phase, is the first step in the recovery plan. This should last for three days or less if the student is symptom free for 24 hours. Activities that should be avoided include cell phone use (including texting), computer use, and video games. Activities that can be done include yoga, light meditation, light stretching activities, and breathing exercises. Light thinking activities are the second step in the recovery plan. Activities that are appropriate include listening to music that is calm and relaxing and playing familiar games. Activities that were mentioned in the complete rest phase may be expanded upon (yoga, meditation, stretching exercises, and breathing activities). Now you have reached the return to school phase in the recovery plan. Start with half-days or attending school part time. Discuss a 504 plan with accommodations with the teacher and school sta. Identify accommodations that will make the student most successful. Always monitor the student carefully, allow rest breaks, and look for signs that he or she is not doing well. Everyone involved with the student should work together. This includes parents and school sta. It is key for everyone to keep the lines of communication open while monitoring the recovery plan.
Return-to-play Protocol.
The following return-to-play step-wise process shall begin when the student who has been removed from participation in any extracurricular interscholastic activity governed by the Iowa High School Athletic Association or the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union is no longer showing signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion or other brain injury for a minimum of 24 hours and has received written medical clearance from a licensed health care provider to return to or commence such participation.
Return-to-play process.
Each step shall take a minimum of 24 hours.
a. If the student shows signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion or other brain injury at any step of the return-to-play protocol, the student must stop the activity and the student’s licensed health care provider and parent or guardian shall be contacted.
b. If the student shows signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion or other brain injury during this process, an additional 24-hour period of rest shall take place. After the 24-hour period of rest, the student shall drop back to the previous level when the student showed no signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion or other brain injury and begin the progression again.
Return-to-play steps.
STEP 1:
Athlete has received written medical clearance from a licensed health care provider to begin the return-toplay process, AND the athlete is back to regular activities, including school, without experiencing any concussion signs, symptoms, or behaviors for a minimum of 24 hours.
STEP 2:
Low impact, light aerobic exercise. Walking or stationary cycling at slow to medium pace. No resistance/weight training.
STEP 3:
Basic exercise, such as running in the gym or on the field. No helmet or other equipment.
STEP 4:
Noncontact, sport-specific training drills (dribbling, ball handling, batting, fielding, running drills) in full equipment. Resistance/weight training may begin.
STEP 5:
Full contact practice and participation in normal training activities.
STEP 6:
Contest participation.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Approved: 6/10/19 Reviewed: Revised: 7/14/25