Sports Medicine

Athletic Injuries

All students desiring to participate in intercollegiate athletics must have proof of a physical examination, proof of insurance and complete a Medical Packet that can be obtained from the athletic training room, before being permitted to workout with any team.

•      Students must report to the Athletic Trainer and/or Team Physician all injuries, illnesses, or conditions sustained prior to becoming a team member.

•      Failure to report such injuries, illnesses and conditions relieves the University of liability in the event that the athlete sustains a subsequent injury or re-injury to the affected part.

Liability

The University's liability for medical expenses resulting from acute accidental injuries and illness sustained by athletes is defined as follows:

Liability is extended to cover only those acute accidental injuries reported to a Staff Athletic Trainer within 48 hours of the injury-producing accident. Liability is further restricted to those acute accidental injuries and illnesses received during the athlete's formal competitive season which in the opinion of the Team Physician, Director of Athletics, and Head Athletics Trainer are directly attributable to participation in intercollegiate athletics while a full-time student at Bowling Green State University. No liability is assumed by the University for the treatment of such illnesses as common colds, sore throats, respiratory infections, or gastrointestinal disorders. The University assumes no liability for any non-accidental injuries or pre-existing conditions, as determined by the Teams Physician and/or the Attending Physician.

Receiving Evaluations, Treatments & Rehabilitation Services

All student-athletes are eligible to be seen or evaluated by a staff certified athletic trainer. Athletic Training hours of operation are listed below. Athletes will be cared for in the order that they report to the athletic training facility (first come first serve basis). Each student-athlete MUST report, or check-in, with a certified athletic trainer upon arriving to the athletic training room. All evaluations, treatments and rehabilitation services will be logged into an Online Injury Tracking System. All athletic training facilities are co-ed, so please dress appropriately. Also, Falcon Pride is also required, please refrain from wearing other College/University apparel in our BGSU athletic training facilities. You may be asked to change your clothing if you are dressed inappropriately. Foul language and the use of Tobacco (Violation of NCAA rules) are strictly prohibited on all athletic training facilities. A member of the BGSU sports medicine staff will address the athletic training room policy and procedures with each team, upon the request of the sport coaches.

Securing Team Physicians’ Services

A podiatrist, the orthopedic physicians, and family medicine physicians are available in the Sebo Athletic Center athletic training room, Ice arena athletic training room and Anderson athletic training room on a regular schedule each semester. All student-athletes are notified by their teams’ certified athletic trainer. Equal access is afforded to all student-athletes. Student-athletes needing services will be added to a Computer sign-in list and will be seen by the physician on a ‘first come first serve’ basis. Additionally, medical physicians are available at the Student Health Service for all student-athletes by appointment.

Authorization for Medical Services

Authorization for medical services needed as a result of an acute accidental injury or illness attributable to participation in intercollegiate athletics must be obtained in advance of such services. Authorization is obtained by procuring from a Staff Athletic Trainer or Team Physician a referral slip, authorizing the needed medical services. In instances of emergency and when the team Physician or Staff Athletic Trainer cannot be contacted, the athlete may obtain medical attention on their own; however, the athlete must notify the Team Physician or Staff Athletic Trainer within 48 hours of obtaining such services.

The athletics department will not be responsible for injuries when the student-athlete is not actively engaged in a formal practice or game under a coach's supervision during a competitive season. The NCAA and the Athletics Department shall determine the competitive season.

Referral to Medical Specialist

If, in the opinion of the Team Physician, the Head Athletic Trainer, and/or Assistant Athletic Trainer, any athlete should be referred to a medical specialist for x-ray and/or consultation due to an athletic injury, the following procedure will be followed:

•      The Staff Athletic Trainer will complete a BGSU referral slip.

•      The Team Physician or the Staff Athletic Trainer will make an appointment with the consultant.

Arrangements for transportation to the consultant will be made by the individual sport. The Athletics Department will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by the examination of a consultant if this procedure is not followed.

There are a number of resources available here on campus. Many are members of the Wellness Committee for Student Athletes. Your liaison to that committee is Annette Davidson, Assistant Athletic Trainer. She can be reached at: Office: 2-7089 Cell: 419-308-2824. Contact information for the committee members is listed below.

Wellness Committee for Student Athletes

Annette Davidson MS, ATC, LAT: Assistant Athletic Trainer:

Office: 2-7089 Cell: 419-308-2824

• Wellness Committee Chairperson and Athletic Department liaison to the Wellness Committee
• Any questions you have concerning who to contact or where to start.
• Help to determine the direction you need to take concerning your athlete.
• Talking to your athlete and helping them set-up a consultation, or setting up team meetings regarding wellness issues or sports psychology.
• Liaison to off-campus help if necessary.

Barb Hoffman MSN,CNP: Interim Assoc. Director of Clinical and Educational Services

Office: 2-2120 Health Center hours: M&T 9am-7:30pm / W&R 9am-6pm / F 9:30-4:30.

•      Group or team discussion regarding eating disorders, wellness issues, stress management, communication, alcohol issues, sexual assault, dating violence, and relationships.

Carrie Dowling CCDCll, OCPSll: Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor, Wellness Connection

Office: 2-9839 Wellness Connection Hours: M-R 8am-8pm / F 8am-5pm

•      Free confidential counseling regarding alcohol and other drug use and abuse, including tobacco.

Mark Krautheim, Ph.D. Assoc. Director/Training Director, Counseling Center

Counseling Center: 2-2081 Hours: M & R 8am-7pm / T,W,F 8am-5pm

Counseling for depression, stress/ anxiety, suicide, grief and loss, family concerns, eating disorders and other related concerns.

NOTE:

• Non- emergency referrals: call 419-372-2081
• Emergency referrals: During Counseling Center office hours call 419-372-2081 and ask to speak to the counselor on-call.
• Emergency outside Counseling Center hours call the Link Crisis Hotline 419-352-1545.
• If student or another person is in immediate danger call 911 or BGSU Police 419-372-2346.

Elayne Jacoby CNP: Nurse Practitioner Health Services

Office: 2-7441 Health Services hours: M&T 9am-7:30pm / W&R 9am-6pm / F 9:30am-4:30pm

•      Women’s health: eating disorders, pregnancy issues/concerns, etc.

Jane Crandall, RD,LD

Office: 2-9355 Hours: T &W 12:30-5:30 / Every other Thurs. 9am-5:30pm

• Counsel for weight loss or gain.
• Nutrition information related to performance.
• Any general information on nutrition. Educational meetings with your team on general nutrition, sport related nutrition, pre-game meals, snacks, etc.

Kerrie Beach: Head Gymnastics Coach

Office: 2-0552

•      Liaison between the coaches and the committee. Kerrie can give you insight on how her sport deals with issues and consequences for their athletes. In addition, she can present any concerns or ideas you have to better serve the student athlete.

Insurance Coverage

Injuries do occur, and we attempt to provide our athletes with the very best possible care. Medical bills are incurred when an athlete is treated whether it be locally, during a road trip, or by a medical provider in his/her home area.

The athletic accident insurance at BGSU provides coverage for the student-athlete for accidental injuries sustained while participating in play or official practice of intercollegiate sports or official travel to or from play or practice. The policy purchased by BGSU is an EXCESS policy designed to cover medical bills for ACCIDENTS incurred while participating in intercollegiate athletics within one year from the date of the accident. Benefits are payable only in excess over all other insurance, whether it be an individual or an employee group policy or plan which must contribute its maximum first. After all other insurance plans have provided their maximum benefit; the University's insurance carrier will then consider the balance of the remaining bills.

BGSU Athletic Department does not cover expenses unrelated to accidental injuries; it is strongly encouraged that student-athletes secure their own insurance.

Important Notice

Upon a student-athlete's entrance to BGSU, parents/guardians will be required to complete a family insurance information form for our files. It will be the parent's/guardian's responsibility to notify the Athletics Department of any change in family or employer group insurance plans. This is extremely important, and we must be notified of any subsequent insurance changes. Bowling Green State University will not be responsible for a claim if the student-athlete changes insurance plans and the Athletics Department is not notified.

NCAA Drug Testing (For a list of NCAA banned substances- www.NCAA.org)

Students who choose to become involved in intercollegiate athletics at Bowling Green State University are subject to NCAA regulations, which currently require that athletes submit to a drug testing requirement for year round participation. For the complete NCAA Drug Testing Policy and a list of NCAA Banned Substance please visit www.ncaa.org. Accordingly, students who do become involved in intercollegiate athletics at Bowling Green State University will be requested to consent to and participate in the University's Drug Testing Program.

BGSU’s Drug Testing Program

Bowling Green State University has established a Drug Testing Program, with informed student-athlete consent. The Drug Testing Program is voluntary, but each student-athlete is encouraged to participate in the program. For purposes of this program, "student-athletes" shall include all students participating or intending to participate in intercollegiate athletics, as well as all students serving as cheerleaders, athletics trainers, coaches, managers, etc. in connection with the conduction of intercollegiate athletics. The program is designed to offer positive assistance to student-athletes in dealing with the issues raised with substance use and abuse, by utilizing two testing approaches.

Bowling Green State University's Drug Testing Program shall include voluntary testing on a random basis and selective testing based on "reasonable suspicion" that a student-athlete is involved in drug or alcohol use/abuse. Whenever there is "reasonable suspicion" to believe that a student-athlete is using drugs or alcohol, the student-athlete shall be tested. Random testing shall be used to detect and deter the use of drugs or abuse, including performance-enhancing drugs that undermine the integrity of athletic competition, and whose use/abuse can reasonably be anticipated to affect performance, health or safety in athletic competition.

"Reasonable suspicion" to believe a student-athlete is using drugs or alcohol shall be based upon the existence of one or more criteria warranting testing to confirm or abate the suspicion. Typical criteria would include, for example, alcohol on breath, slurred or confused speech, unsteady balance or coordination, information received from a reliable informant, unusual weight gain or loss, unusual redness of eyes, inability to focus attention, etc. A head coach, athletic trainer or other Athletics Department personnel may direct a written request to the Director of Athletics to initiate a test based upon "reasonable suspicion". When a student who having first given consent, refuses to cooperate with voluntary random testing, any such refusal shall be considered a sufficient basis to immediately suspend the student from participation in intercollegiate athletics for one (1) calendar year from the date of such refusal. Additionally, his/her scholarship will be suspended effective with the end of the current academic term, or as soon thereafter as permitted under NCAA regulations.

Although educational efforts will continue to be the major thrust of addressing drug and alcohol use/abuse by student-athletes, a clearly defined program of testing student-athletes is considered a reasonable, responsive and necessary element of the total program to deter and detect such use. Implementation and ongoing administration of the program shall be conducted in such a manner as to ensure that the Drug Testing Program will reasonably address the following specific goals of the program:

•      Serve as a deterrent to drug and alcohol use/abuse by student-athletes;

•      Identify student-athletes who are drug or alcohol users/abusers who may need to be removed from athletic participation or competition to avoid risk of serious injury to themselves and/or others;

•      Promote drug and alcohol use/abuse education and the availability of treatment or counseling for the student-athlete who needs and/or desires assistance.

Please see the complete Drug Testing Policy in the Documents folder in the Student-Athlete Community of the MyBGSU portal.

Athletic Training Room Services

Facility for Morning Clinic (Evaluation, Treatment & Rehabilitation)

            Location: Sebo Athletic Center Room 100

            Hours: Monday thru Friday 6:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

            Phone: 372-7088 or 372-7089 or 372-7090

Facility for Afternoon Clinic Hours and Gymnastics

            Location: Eppler South Athletic Training Room

            Hours: Monday-Friday 2:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

            Phone: 372-0217

Facility for Basketball and Volleyball

            Location: Memorial Hall/Anderson Arena Athletic Training Room

            Hours: Monday – Friday (Times according to practice schedule)

            Phone: 372-2219

Facility for Ice Hockey, Baseball and Tennis

            Location: Ice Arena Athletic Training Room

            Hours: Monday – Friday 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

            Phone: 372-7238

Facility for Football, Men’s & Women’s Soccer, Softball, Men’s & Women’s Cross Country and Track and Field

            Location: Sebo Athletic Center Room 100

            Hours: Monday – Friday 1:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

            Phone: 372-7090

*Saturday and Sunday services must be arranged with your individual sport athletic trainer.

*Times are subject to change according to practice of individual sports.

*Times may change during University breaks, Holidays or Finals week.

(Please communicate with your Certified Athletic Trainer during these irregular times to set up appointments.)