Head Injuries

If a player suffers a significant blow to the head, is suspected of having suffered a concussion, or has an apparent head injury during the course of the game, the team must remove the player from the game for a medical evaluation by a Health Care Professional (as defined in the MSYSA Concussion Policy).
A temporary substitute for the evaluation of a suspected concussion/head injury is permitted and will not count against a team’s total number of allowed substitutions, however a team may only make a temporary substitution if they have a substitution available.
If the player with the suspected head injury has received clearance from a healthcare professional (as defined in the MSYSA Concussion policy) to return to the game, the player may re-enter at any stoppage of play. The evaluated player must replace the original substitute.
The player who was temporarily substituted into the game for the player with the suspected head injury will be considered an available substitute and is permitted to re-enter the game as a standard substitute per competition rules.
Any cautions assessed to the substituted player will carry with that player throughout the remainder of the game, any red card to the substitute would apply to the team and the team would be required to utilize a substitution (if available) for the player with the suspected head injury to replace a different player.
If the game ends before the player with the head injury is cleared to return, the temporary substitute must be marked on the game reports or the 4th Official Log (when applicable) as a permanent substitute.
For all Quarterfinal, Semifinal, and Final games, and any preliminary game with a Healthcare Professional on-site (HCP as defined in the MSYSA Concussion Policy) – If a coach seeks to allow a player to re-enter the game who has been removed from the game for further evaluation by a Health Care Professional and who not yet received such medical clearance, that coach shall be issued a warning.