I don't fault the ref or the protocol, but I think they have gotten more strict with this stuff.
oh, they definitely have. It's now a requirement that every head coach (and perhaps the assistants; I can't remember) in each PIAA sport complete an online concussion course. In addition, every season there are new guidelines to the officials in each sport about concussions, and what to do if you suspect them. There have also been some lawsuits filed by athletes against the PIAA for concussion injuries, which have impacted how they are handling the situation.
In addition, many school districts in PA have adopted concussion policies. Some require ImPACT tests be taken before the start of preseason practice, and that a subsequent test, or tests, be taken before an athlete can return to athletic participation from a concussion.
In checking on this a bit more, I realized that there was a NFHS rule that PIAA schools follow for wrestling which states:
"Any contestant who exhibits signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion (such as loss of consciousness, headache, dizziness, confusion or balance problems) shall be immediately removed from the match and shall not return to competition until cleared by an appropriate health-care professional."
The PIAA has since sent out an update on this to specify that "an appropriate health-care professional" is a MD or a DO.
There are a few contrasts between what Roar asked (the NCAA protocol versus high) and what your son faced. The first is that "PIAA protocol" has changed pretty much every year in the past 5-6 years with regards to how to handle concussions. I've thrown out all my old PIAA wrestling rule books, so even if I knew the year in which the incident happened, I couldn't speak to exactly what the process was at that time. The second is that in the NCAA, the match is placed on hold, and the potentially concussed wrestler is taken to a station away from everyone, and given a full evaluation. If he passes it, he returns to the mat and the match resumes at the point where it was stopped. In PIAA, if the ref stops the match due to their belief that one of the wrestlers may have been concussed, the injury clock starts and if the wrestler is not cleared by a MD or DO (provided they are even at the match) before the injury time runs out, then the match ends and the potentially concussed wrestler loses by MFF. Most PIAA refs make it a point before each match to ask if there is a medical personnel assigned to the match, and then go and speak to them. Part of that discussion involves checking whether they are a certified trainer, or a MD/DO, in part so they know whether or not the medical personnel have the ability to clear a wrestler for a suspected concussion.
