UNIS continues to work closely with the NYU Langone Medical Center Concussion Center to develop best practice policies and procedures in dealing with the management of student athlete concussions. All coaches must take part in professional development programs, which will teach them to understand:

1. Definition, signs and symptoms of concussion.
2. Concussion concerns, complications and at-risk populations.
3. Injury prevention.
4. Details of the New York State Concussion Management and Awareness Act.
5. On-field concussion assessment and carry over to classroom and play
6. Return to Play and Return to Learn Guidelines.
7. Team composition and the role of the Team in safely assessing and managing the athlete/student who has sustained a concussion.

All coaches must take part in professional development programs, which will prepare individuals to provide care for breathing emergencies and perform CPR for victims (age 8 and up) of sudden cardiac arrest. Coaches will also learn when and how to use the emergency medical service (EMS). The first aid course covers both adult and pediatric emergencies. Topics include broken bones, bleeding, burns, diabetes, seizures, asthma attacks, nose-bleeds and heart attacks. The course will also cover the skills needed to assist a patient with an EPI-Pen Auto Injector and asthma inhaler.

UNIS continues to work closely with All Season Sports Orthopedics and Sports Physical Therapy and aims to provide fully qualifies trainers for all UNIS home games. If an athlete sustains a significant injury during a game the therapist and coach will inform the parent/care giver immediately.

It is expected that all UNIS athletes provide their own water bottles at all training and games. This policy is based on current research that strongly suggests that the sharing of water bottles between athletes significantly increase the risk of Influenza (flu), colds and other respiratory illness, mononucleosis (mono) and meningitis (infection involving the brain and spinal cord). Germs can be spread from saliva when a person with an infection shares a water bottle with another person.

It is extremely important that all athletes do bring their own water bottles and stay hydrated. Hydration is key to good health and physical activity. Not drinking enough fluids throughout the day can lead to dehydration and decreased performance in activity or sport.

Sport is an invaluable and authentic platform to help teenagers learn more about social and emotional learning. Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the development of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, responsible decision-making, and relationship management. In the context of competitive sports, feelings and emotions that result from achieving a personal best in an event or game, receiving a compliment from a coach or teammate after a meet or game, winning a race or a playoff can make sports extremely enjoyable and motivate teenage athletes to participate regularly. A key challenge in this setting is that young athletes may lack social and emotional competencies that can lead to them becoming less connected with their peers, coach or parents. Negative feelings and emotions that result from being made fun of or teased, failing to achieve a personal best time on the track, living up to the expectations of others, being disqualified in a race or fouled out in a game, or just being isolated from participating in a team activity, can ultimately reduce the desire to participate or continue training and compete, increase anxiety and affect relationships and general well-being.

It is imperative that coaches, parents, teachers and family and friends continue to support the social and emotional needs all UNIS athletes.