The RWU Sports Medicine and Athletic Training staff is committed to enhancing the quality of health care for varsity student-athletes through the prevention, evaluation, management and rehabilitation of injuries and illnesses. We are committed to developing and maintaining appropriate athletic training facilities and to staffing facilities with highly qualified and motivated personnel whose foundation is built on the utmost ethical standards.
Jake Rezendes – Head Athletic Trainer
E-mail: jrezendes@rwu.edu Campus Ext.: 3319 Cell: 617-780-8506
Julie Edson - Assistant Athletic Trainer
Email: jedson@rwu.edu Campus Ext: 3266 Cell: 508-308-1106
Kyle O’Brien - Assistant Athletic Trainer
Email: ksobrien@rwu.edu Campus Ext: 3287 Cell: 781-252-1466
Brittany Dupuis - Assistant Athletic Trainer
Email: bdupuis@rwu.edu Campus Ext: 3266 Cell: 508-244-1966
Team Physicians
Dr. Razib Khaund and Dr. Jeff Feden
· Proper dress is required; shorts and shirts should be worn at all times.
· Foul language and horseplay will not be tolerated.
· The AT Room is not a hang-out; AT staff will ask individuals to leave if they are just hanging around.
· Keep the Athletic Training Room (ATR) neat and clean. Return things to the way they were found.
· The office, phone, and computer are for staff only.
· Ice is for treatment only.
· Please do not remove items from the ATR (towels, rehab equipment, scissors).
· Treatments for student athletes are on a first come/first serve basis
· If a student-athlete needs treatment/rehabilitation outside of normal operating hours, they must schedule time with an ATC
· Treatments are not an excuse to be late to practice.
During the school year, the Athletic Training room will open at 11 am daily unless pre-arranged with the Athletic Training staff, or for practice/game schedules.
From 3 PM until close (usually 30 minutes after the last practice or game for that day) is for game/practice prep and coverage. The Athletic Training room will open on the weekends based on the schedule. The room will typically open one hour prior to practices and two hours prior to home games
Hours are subject to change based on practice schedules, game times, and ATC availability.
Non-Traditional seasons are not covered directly by an ATC, it is highly recommended that non-traditional teams book their practices based on the in-season teams schedules or communicate with staff to ensure availability and water and ice access.
If a practice is to be cancelled for any reason, please let the Sports Medicine/Athletic Training staff know immediately. If there are changes outside of weather or unforeseen outside influences the change must be communicated 24 hours prior or coverage cannot be guaranteed. If a practice is added where there was previously a day off it must be communicated 48 hours prior to coordinate coverage. If this is not done, expect to not have coverage for that practice.
All first-time participants in RWU varsity athletic programs are required to have a current physical examination within 6 months of the start of their season that specifically clears them for unrestricted athletic participation.
Student-athletes (returners) will also need to have a follow-up physical examination every year after that. Physical examinations that are on file with Health Services can fulfill this requirement. Student-athletes should file requests for clearance to participate through the Sports Medicine and Athletic Training department.
All freshman and transfer student-athletes must upload results from a sickle cell test, uploading the waiver saying negative does not count for proof of results.
All participants in RWU athletic programs are required to access the online program Sportsware On-line in order to participate in any sport. This program can be accessed by following the instructions on the Sports Medicine website. This online form includes all demographics such as current address, emergency contact, insurance information, medical history questionnaire and electronic signatures for waivers. Documentation is required for any current injuries treated by a medical professional. Sportswear On-Line will need to be updated annually by the student athlete.
Return to Participation
Student–athletes participating in RWU athletic programs are responsible for reporting injuries and illness to the athletic training staff.
If the student-athlete is referred to an outside health care provider or Health Services, they must return written documentation to the athletic training staff. If the student-athlete chooses to visit a health care provider outside of the Roger Williams University referral network, they are still responsible for obtaining written documentation. The student-athlete will only be allowed to return to sport activities (conditioning, practice, games) when they produce a note from a health care provider that specifically states that they have been cleared to return to participation. Physician referral forms are available in the athletic training room and can be obtained for any scheduled appointments.
Please note that the Sports Medicine and Athletic Training Department will have final say on the athlete’s return to full participation.
The Athletics Department participates in a secondary insurance policy for varsity and club sports, for sport related accidents/injuries. The student-athlete must use their primary insurance company and file a claim with their primary insurance company prior to filing with the secondary policy. The claim must be submitted within 90 days of the date of the accident. Physician services must begin within 30 days of the accident.
Student-athletes can obtain the secondary insurance information from the athletic training staff. It would be taken with them to the appointment. Once the primary insurance has made a payout the secondary insurance will be sent the remaining bill, and it will be processed and paid. For questions about your medical bills' status, see athletic training staff.
IMPACT baseline testing will be performed on the following sports based on NCAA Institute of Sport Science data for all RWU sports teams. A link will be provided by the athletic training staff for student-athletes to complete the test prior to participation.
Concussions are a major part of sports and can be a serious situation if left untreated. The RWU Sports Medicine department has a return to play protocol and guideline for concussions that all athletes regardless of sport will adhere too. Our Sports Medicine staff meet with each team to discuss concussions and our return-to-learn and return-to-play protocols. All RWU Student-Athletes are given a contract and information sheet describing the symptoms and return after a concussion. After the Student-Athlete has gone through this procedure, they will sign a sheet that acknowledges they understand the severity of concussions and its effects.
All head injuries need to be reported to the Sports Medicine staff immediately after the injury has occurred to ensure a proper and comprehensive return-to-play. No Student-Athlete will return to play without proper clearance by the Sports Medicine staff.
Cold Weather Policy
Based upon NCAA and NATA guidelines, the Athletic Training Department has adopted a Cold Weather Policy and a general Weather Policy. The Athletic Training Department uses the WeatherSentry online weather program that allows us to track inclement weather. If this weather threatens games or practices, the Athletic Training Staff will sound an air horn with 3 short blasts. This means that all events are suspended and will resume when the staff deems necessary.
In regards to severe cold weather, the Athletic Training Department has set a guideline that no practices or events are to take place when the “feels like” temperature drops below 15 degrees. The WeatherSentry on-line weather program has a “feels like” temperature gauge that takes wind-chill into account when stating the temperature. Please use common sense when practicing outside and make sure your student-athletes are dressed appropriately, covering all exposed areas when it is extremely cold.
The Sports Medicine staff and Associate Director of Athletics for Recreational Services and Facilities will decide if a field is safe to play on based on snow accumulation and or rain. Communication of these situations between coaches and support staff is important, and this will be discussed case-by-case.
Hot Weather Policy
Based on NCAA and NATA guidelines the Athletic Training Department has adopted a hot weather/wetbulb policy. The Athletic Training Department uses the WeatherSentry on-line weather program that allows us to track inclement weather. If the WBGT is a threat to safe practice/events, discussion with coaches and event staff will take place.
In regard to hot weather the following recommendations are in place.
| WBGT Reading |
Activity Guidelines and Rest-Break Guidelines |
| Under 82.0°F |
Normal Activities: provide ≥3 separate rest breaks/hour of minimum duration 3 minutes each during workout. |
82.1°F-86.9°F
|
Use discretion for intense or prolonged exercise. Watch at-risk players carefully. Provide ≥3 separate rest breaks/hour of minimum duration 4 minutes each.
|
| 87.0°F-89.9°F |
Maximum practice time+2hours. For football: players are restricted to helmet, shoulder pads, and shorts during practice. All protective equipment must be removed for conditioning activities. For all sports: provide ≥4 separate rest breaks/hour of minimum duration 4 minutes each. |
| 90.0°F -92.0°F |
Maximum length of practice=1hour. No protective equipment may be worn during practice and there may be no conditioning activities. There must be 20 minutes of rest breaks provided during the hour of practice. |
| Over 92.1°F |
No outdoor workouts or games, cancel activities, delay practices until a cooler WBGT reading occurs. |
The Sports Medicine staff and Associate Director of Athletics for Recreational Services and Facilities will decide if it is safe to play based on WBGT recommendations and discuss appropriate practice/event plan. Communication of these situations between coaches and support staff is important, and this will be discussed case-by-case.
Air Quality Policy
Quality Index (AQI) is an index for reporting daily air quality, which determines how clear or polluted the air is. It helps us determine any health effects that may be a concern for the athletes, coaches, and staff. It considers ozone, pollution, and any
possible smoke. AQI for ozone is based on 8-hour exposure, while AQI for PM2.5 (fine particulate matter) is based on a 24-hour exposure, and since most/all practices and games are shorter exposure than those, it is recommended to use the Air Districts ROAR system. ROAR is based on 1-hour averages of ozone and PM2.5. This is the most real-time system that is available to the public and schools.
To better understand recommendations for Air Quality considerations please see the following chart.
| |
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
Level 4 |
Level 5 |
Level 6+ |
|
Athletic
Practices
|
Outdoor activities ok for all. |
Ensure that sensitive individuals are medically managing their conditions. |
Reduce vigorous exercise to 30 minutes per hour of practice time with increased rest breaks and substitutions. Ensure that sensitive individuals are medically managing their conditions. |
Exercise indoors or reduce vigorous exercise to 30 minutes of practice time with increased rest breaks and substitutions. Sensitive individuals should remain indoors. |
No outdoor activity. All activities should be moved indoors. |
No activity. |
| Sporting Events/ competition |
Outdoor activities ok for all. |
Ensure that sensitive individuals are medically managing their conditions. |
Increase rest breaks and substitutions, per CIF guidelines for extreme heat. Ensure that sensitive individuals are medically managing their conditions. |
Increase rest breaks and substitutions, per CIF guidelines for extreme heat. Ensure that sensitive individuals are medically managing their conditions. |
Events must be rescheduled or relocated. |
No activity. |
| AQI |
0-50 |
51-100 |
101-150 |
151-200 |
201-300 |
301+ |
| Category |
Good |
Moderate |
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups |
Unhealthy |
Very Unhealthy |
Hazardous |
The Sports Medicine staff and Associate Director of Athletics for Recreational Services and Facilities will decide if it is safe to play based on Air Quality recommendations and discuss appropriate practice/event plan. Communication of these situations between coaches and support staff is important, and this will be discussed case-by-case.
Lightning Policy
| Distance |
Procedure |
| 15 miles out |
“heads up”, monitor closely, prepare for removal of teams and fans to a safe place indoors.
|
| 10 miles out |
Begin safety procedures, stop play and start moving people in doors.
|
| 6-8 miles out |
Safety procedures should be completed. Everyone should be indoors, under bleachers does not count. No one should be on the playing surface.
|
| Post storm |
Wait until the storm is 10 miles out for a period of 30 minutes prior to being able to return to play |
The Sports Medicine staff and Associate Director of Athletics for Recreational Services and Facilities will decide if it is safe to play based on lightening detection. During games or practices, the Athletic Training Staff will sound an air horn with 3 short blasts when lightning is detected 15 miles away to signify to staff to help escort athletes and fans to an indoor facility.
