Student-Athlete Handbook
Medical Clearance
Pre-participation Medical Examination
The NCAA requires any student-athletes who are beginning their initial season of eligibility or are trying out for a team are required to undergo a medical examination or evaluation by a physician. The medical examination must be administered within 6 months before participation in any in-season or non-traditional season practice, competition or conditioning activity. Once they arrive on campus they must also complete a medical screening performed by the Nazareth Athletic Training staff prior to participation. Athletes will also be required to complete an ImPACT test. Clearance is dependent upon passing these exams, immunization compliance and completion of a Health History form. In the following years, all returning upperclassmen must complete a Returning Athlete Health History form and blood pressure screening within 6 months prior to any participation in their sport with the Athletic Training Staff.
Concussion testing and education
Annually, all student-athletes prior to the start of an athlete's participation in their sport will be given a concussion fact sheet and watch a video provided by the NCAA. All student-athletes will be required annually to take part in a concussion baseline assessment prior to the start of their first practice in ALL sports. This will be done by completing a SWAY Medical Baseline test. These tests will be scheduled with teams and administered by the Athletic Training staff upon arrival on campus.
Nazareth University Concussion Management Policy
Sickle Cell Information
The NCAA requires an institution confirm the sickle cell trait status of all NCAA Division III student-athletes. Legislation passed that takes effect August 1 st , 2022 requires all NEW student athletes to provide proof of sickle cell testing, and removes the option to sign a waiver declining confirmation of an individual's sickle cell trait status. Student-athletes must upload a copy of the sickle cell solubility test to the efiles portion of ATS, and sign the sickle cell testing form.
Medical-Insurance Information
Nazareth Athletic Training department subscribes to the Athletic Trainer System (ATS) which is an electronic medical records system. It allows us to gather pertinent medical information from the student-athlete, including insurance provider, emergency contacts, medical history and contact information. It also allows us to track all injuries and medical treatments for the athletes via ATS. New student-athletes are required to register on the electronic medical records system, and all returning student-athletes are required to update their Medical and Insurance Information annually.Â
New student-athletes are required to register on the electronic medical records system and all returning student-athletes are required to update their Medical and Insurance Information annually.
Waiver and Consent Form (for minors)
Insurance Card
Each student athlete is required annually to provide us with a copy of the front and back of their insurance card.
Assumption of Risk and Release of Medical Information
Each student-athlete is required to sign the Assumption of Risk and Release of Medical Documentation form annually. The first part of the form indicates that the student-athlete should understand that there is a risk of injury with participation in sport. It outlines the student-athlete's responsibility in reducing that risk by being in shape for their sport, being acclimated to the weather, reporting injuries, wearing appropriate protective equipment for their sport, understanding the risk of concussion and reviewing the educational information provided to them and reporting dangerous obstacles on field and courts. The second part of the form allows the Nazareth Athletic Training staff and team physician to advocate for care of the student-athlete by sharing the student-athlete's medical status, medical condition, injury, and prognosis with the coaching staff, team physician, health services, other specialists, insurance companies, the Empire 8 Conference, and the NCAA, as needed to provide care. If the student-athlete is under the age of 18 at the time of the signing of the form, it must also be signed by a parent or legal guardian. This form will be sent to the parent or guardian to sign.
NCAA Drug Policy
Being a member of an athletic team at Nazareth University, an NCAA Division III institution, you are subject to random drug testing at NCAA Championship events. The NCAA denounces the use of non-therapeutic drugs by student-athletes and bans certain classes of drugs because they can harm student-athletes and create an unfair advantage in competition. The NCAA bans the following classes of drugs: a. Stimulants, b. Anabolic Agents, c. Alcohol and Beta Blockers(banned for rifle only), d. Diuretics and Other Masking Agents, e. Street Drugs, f. Peptide Hormones and Analogues, g. Anti-estrogens, h. Beta-2 Agonists. The NCAA recognizes that some banned substances are used for legitimate medical purposes and are needed by student-athletes to support their academics and general health. Accordingly, the NCAA allows an exception to be made for those student-athletes with a documented medical history demonstrating the need for regular use of such a drug. In order to be in compliance for exceptions, the Nazareth University Athletic Training staff needs to maintain documents from the prescribing physician in the student-athlete's medical record on campus that include diagnosis, course of treatment and current prescription. Review with your physician all medications that you are taking to see if they fall under the banned classes of drugs. If any of them do, please print the form below and have your physician complete for each medication you are taking. If you have been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD and are taking medication for the treatment of that condition, a different form must be completed. See separate heading below for the form and what documentation is required.
Examples of banned drugs can be found at
www.ncaa.org/drugtesting. Any substance that is chemically related to the class, even though it is not listed is banned. No medical exception review is available for substances in the class of street drug.
NCAA Medication Medical Exception Documentation Reporting Form(Non-ADD/ADHD Meds)
ADHD/ADD medication requirements
Since August 2009, the NCAA requires the collection of more specific medical records for those student-athletes diagnosed/treated for ADHD/ADD utilizing specific medication which may be banned by the NCAA. In order to be compliant with this requirement, the student-athlete must provide the form below to their physician/health care provider treating the student athlete for this condition. It must be filled out, with appropriate and adequate documentation and submitted prior to participation in their sport. After the athletes' initial submission of the form and documentation, the athlete is required to annually have treating physician complete and submit an updated form.
NCAA Medical Exception Documentation ADD/ADHD Medication Form
Secondary Insurance Policy
The Nazareth University Athletic Department provides an insurance policy that works in conjunction with your primary medical insurance coverage. The Athletic Insurance policy covers any expenses in excess of your primary medical insurance resulting from accidental bodily injury that occurs as a direct result of your participation in intercollegiate athletics. In other words, the Nazareth University policy covers only expenses that your primary medical insurance coverage does not pay, such as co-pays for office visits or prescription drugs, and partial payments to a health care provider. Covered injuries must occur as a direct result of your participation in varsity or junior varsity sports at Nazareth University. Failure by the student-athlete, parent(s), or
guardian(s) to follow the terms and conditions of the student-athlete's primary medical insurance to utilize care properly will not, in any way, increase the liability of the University under this policy.
This includes failure to obtain required referrals or pre-authorizations to seek healthcare by off-campus providers. Student-athletes should notify the athletic training staff of injury prior to seeking medical services so that they may be provided with the appropriate paperwork to bring with them to medical providers. If you have any questions regarding this policy, please do not
hesitate to discuss them with the athletic training staff and/or the Athletic Insurance Coordinator, Michael Conroy at 585-389-2838/mconroy1@naz.edu.
Transgender Student-Athlete Participation Policy
Nazareth's policy is in line with the NCAA Board of Governors.
