The American Academy of Pediatrics has published guidelines regarding when athletes can return to sports following a head injury.

American Academy of Pediatrics Return to Sports Recommendations

Grade 1 concussion:

• Defined by:
• Transient confusion
• No loss of consciousness
• Mental status changes last for less than 15 minutes
• Recommendations:
• Return to sports activity same day only if all symptoms resolve within 15 minutes
• If a second grade 1 concussion occurs, no sports activity for 1 week

Grade 2 concussion:

• Defined by:
• Transient confusion
• No loss of consciousness
• Mental status changes last for 15 minutes or more
• Recommendations:
• No sports activity for 1 week
• If a grade 2 concussion occurs on the same day as a grade 1, no sports activity for 2 weeks

Grade 3 concussion:

• Defined by:
• Loss of consciousness
• Recommendations:
• No sports activity for 1 week if loss of consciousness was only seconds
• No sports activity for 2 weeks if loss of consciousness was minutes or longer
• For a second grade 3 concussion, not sports activity until the person has no symptoms for 1 month
• If abnormality is seen on CT scan of the brain or MRI scan or the brain, no sports activity for the rest of the season and the athlete should be discouraged from returning to contact sports.