How long do football players have to stay out with a concussion?
John Castro
Published Mar 14, 2026
How long do football players have to stay out with a concussion?
They found that the players who suffered a concussion returned to play an average of 19 days later, which means they missed about 1.5 games. Data collected between 1996 and 2001 showed that NFL players were sidelined for six or fewer days after a concussion.
How long will the athlete be out of play with a concussion?
The athlete must be symptom-free for 24 hours at the current level of activity before moving on to the next step. If one or more symptoms return, the player needs to go back to the previous level of activity with no symptoms for at least 24 hours before trying to do more.
When can a child return to sports after a concussion?
Rosemarie Scolaro Moser, a sports concussion neuropsychologist featured in the MomsTEAM PBS documentary, The Smartest Team: Making High School Football Safer, recommend that children and adolescent take a minimum of three weeks off before returning to sports after a concussion.
Is it illegal to play sports with a concussion?
This law also specifies that a student who is suspected of having sustained a concussion or other head injury while engaged in a sports competition or practice must be immediately removed from play and may not participate in further sports activity until she/he is evaluated by a physician or other licensed healthcare …
What is the concussion protocol?
A concussion protocol is an organization’s set of policies, tools, and assessments for caring for a concussion. It outlines how the concussion care team prepares for and responds to this injury.
What should I do if my child has a concussion?
The primary treatment for concussion is rest. Rest helps the brain to heal. The American Academy of Neurology, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Child Neurology Foundation, as well as other experts, all recommend rest for children who have had a concussion.
What happens if you play football with a concussion?
If you play through a concussion, you are putting yourself at risk for Second Impact Syndrome. If you get hit in the head again before your first concussion heals, you could collapse and end up with brain damage, in a wheelchair or dead. No game or practice is worth the chance of dying.
Can you play football with a concussion?
When there is any indication that an athlete has suffered a head injury, the athlete should immediately undergo a medical evaluation, and if there is a suspicion of a TBI or concussion, then the athlete should not return to play on the same day. A more thorough medical evaluation should then be performed.
Can you play the next game after a concussion?
Concussion symptoms typically resolve within a few days to a few weeks, and generally there are no long-term problems. Most young athletes can return to sports once a medical provider has cleared them.
What are the restrictions for a concussion?
Physical and mental rest Relative rest, which includes limiting activities that require thinking and mental concentration, is recommended for the first two days after a concussion. However, complete rest, such as lying in a dark room and avoiding all stimuli, does not help recovery and is not recommended.
What do you do for a minor concussion?
In the meantime, try these tips to help you quickly recover from a concussion and get back to your usual activities.
- Reduce screen time.
- Limit exposure to bright lights and loud sounds.
- Avoid unnecessary movement of your head and neck.
- Stay hydrated.
- Rest.
- Eat more protein.
- Eat foods rich in omega-3s.