This memo serves as a reminder that NCAA legislation requires member schools to report annually on all student-athlete fatalities and catastrophic injuries, regardless of whether such fatality/injury is sport-related. Schools must report a catastrophic event that occurred during this annual cycle and they must report retroactively a catastrophic event that occurred since the legislation became effective Aug. 1, 2014, if that event has not already been reported.
To assist in the collection of this data, the NCAA Sport Science Institute has partnered with the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research and the Datalys Center. In addition, an online reporting tool has been developed to facilitate reporting. Schools can also report a catastrophic event by calling the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research at 919-843-8357.
Individuals at member schools who have been designated to report a catastrophic event involving an NCAA student-athlete must submit data detailing student-athlete fatalities, near fatalities and catastrophic injuries (e.g., injuries and illnesses related to the head, neck, spine, heart, lungs, heat, sickle cell trait and eyes). The person responsible for reporting a fatality or catastrophic injury should be an individual or team of individuals who are most likely to be aware of a catastrophic event and have the necessary knowledge and authority to submit the report on behalf of the school. However, schools have the flexibility to designate the most appropriate individual on their campus based on their own policies and procedures.
Although fatalities and catastrophic injuries among college athletes are rare, identifying the causes and circumstances of catastrophic events are critical to developing effective prevention and response strategies. For more information and for answers to frequently asked questions about fatality and catastrophic injury reporting, visit the NCAA website at ncaa.org/injuryreporting.
This email was sent to NCAA Divisions I, II and III Athletics Health Care Administrators, Conference Commissioners, Directors of Athletics, Directors of Compliance, Faculty Athletics Representatives, Head Athletic Trainers, Head Team Physicians and Senior Woman Administrators based on contact information in the NCAA Directory; and to select NCAA staff.
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