Coaches receive concussion protocol training, district fined
By Molly Ann Howell
Managing Editor
The Miyamura Patriots were recently forced to forfeit their Oct. 17 game against the Capital Jaguars after coaches reportedly didn’t follow concussion protocol.
During the Oct. 10 football game against the Belen Eagles, Patriot quarterback Salid Rashid collided with an opponent. He allegedly suffered a concussion.
Despite this, he continued to play in the game, and went on to practice ahead of the Oct. 17 game against the Jaguars.
During the Oct. 17 game, Capital coaches and staff reportedly began to question why Rashid was playing in the game despite receiving a concussion in the previous week’s game. They questioned the situation in the middle of the Oct. 17 game, shortly after the Patriots scored their second touchdown.
The New Mexico Athletic Association was alerted to the situation, and opened an investigation.
New Mexico legislators passed a bill in 2016 related to student athletes and concussion protocol. The bill mandates training on concussions for students ent athletes and their guardians, and requires immediate removal from play if a concussion is suspected. The guardians and athletes have to sign a form acknowledging that they received and understand the brain injury training.
Athletes also can’t return to practice for 10 days after a concussion.
Once they concluded their investigation, the NMAA determined that the Patriots’ football coaches would need to complete concussion training and the Gallup-McKinley County Schools would receive a $100 fine for reportedly breaking protocol.
GMCS Superintendent Mike Hyatt said he was alerted to the situation and investigation in a timely manner.
“The NMAA looked into it and we looked into it on our side and we came to the conclusion that the student athlete did show potential signs of a concussion,” he said. “The athlete stayed out of the game for the rest of that particular game, but then when they played Capital the coaches played the student athlete when they shouldn’t have.”
Hyatt said a misunderstanding led to the unfortunate situation.
“What it sounded like was they had a misunderstanding of the rule because it wasn’t ruled as a concussion,” he said. “From what I understand through the investigation, they thought the student athlete could play, but the rule is very clear that even potential symptoms that could be a concussion still can’t play the student athlete.”
Patriots head coach Dave Foley didn’t respond to the Sun’s request for comment on the situation.
