Safe football at Oceanside High School

As football season starts, it is important to keep players safe. The Oceanside school district has that covered — literally.

Almost all of the helmets in Oceanside High School’s inventory — 118 out of 121 — are rated four or five stars for safety on to Virginia Tech’s rating system, and have been certified by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE). That’s enough helmets for the 45 junior varsity players and 55 varsity players on the current rosters.

The helmets are tested for safety every year at the end of the season, according to Jeff Risener, the Oceanside School District’s director of physical education, health and interscholastic athletics.

The remaining three helmets are three-star helmets, but those have not been used since the 2012 season. “None of those players have level three,” Risener said.

When they were purchased, he said, they were rated 5 stars, but the players and coaches did not like the helmets and they have since been unused.

In addition to helmet safety, Risener said that student athletes must have a parent read and sign a sheet that lists the signs and symptoms of concussions. This information is also available under “Athletics” tab of the Oceanside Schools website. Players are also taught the proper way to tackle.

“We play close attention to state concussion management regulation… we abide by New York State return to play protocol [after a concussion],” said Risener. “We’re following the law in order to protect the health and safety of our student athletes.”

An ambulance is on standby at home games, and there is a Certified Athletic Trainer, Rachel Dean, at almost all practices and games for both teams, and she’s on call if she has to attend a different game. Certified Athletic Trainers are provided by the district’s contract with Peak Performance, and specialize in the prevention and treatment of athlete injuries.

“We’re doing all we can,” said Risener. “And education is the key… Our coaching staff does a great job teaching the correct way to tackle and play football.”