The NCAA has implemented comprehensive concussion protocols to protect college football players from brain injuries. These rules mirror many NFL safety measures but face unique challenges at the collegiate level.
Football remains a contact sport where head-to-head collisions can cause concussions. The NCAA recognizes this creates serious risks for players aged 18 to 24, whose careers and long-term health hang in the balance.
College football’s concussion protocol involves six mandatory stages that players must complete before returning to action.
How College Football Concussion Protocol Works
Every college athlete undergoes baseline testing before each season. Medical staff conduct symptom evaluations, cognitive testing and balance assessments to establish normal results for each player.
When a potential concussion occurs during games or practice, medical personnel trained in concussion management must examine the athlete immediately. Players showing loss of consciousness, confusion or balance problems get removed from play right away.
Athletes diagnosed with concussions enter a six-stage protocol requiring at least 24 hours between each level.
The Six Stages of Recovery
Stage 1: Symptom-limited daily activities
Players perform only basic, non-strenuous daily tasks. Medical staff monitor for worsening symptoms before allowing progression.
Stage 2: Light aerobic exercise
Athletes can resume walking and other light exercise. They’re re-evaluated to ensure no symptoms return or worsen.
Stage 3: Sport-specific exercise
Players advance to football-related drills without contact. This includes position-specific movements and skills work.
Stage 4: Non-contact practice
Athletes participate in full practice sessions but avoid any head impact. Dynamic drills and team activities are permitted.
Stage 5: Full-contact practice
Players return to normal practice with hitting and contact once medically cleared from the previous stage.
Stage 6: Unrestricted return to play
Athletes resume regular game action if they complete full practice without experiencing any returning symptoms.
Concussion Statistics and Risk Factors
Concussion data requires careful interpretation since studies show 20 to 60% of athletes don’t report their symptoms.
Current research indicates concussions occur 3.74 times per 1,000 athlete exposures during games. An athlete exposure means one player participating in one game.
Kickoffs present the highest concussion risk at 4.60 concussions per 1,000 athlete exposures. This data explains recent rule changes targeting kickoff safety.
One study found 2.20 concussions per 1,000 plays. With college games averaging 180 plays and 68 FBS games occurring on busy Saturdays, that translates to roughly 24 concussions in a single day of college football.
Understanding CTE
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy represents a progressive brain disease caused by repeated head trauma. CTE symptoms include confusion, memory loss, impaired judgment and behavioral changes.
Medical professionals can only diagnose CTE through autopsy examination.
Protocol History and Evolution
The NCAA traces its safety efforts back to 1893 when leather helmets first appeared in the Army-Navy game. Modern concussion legislation began in 2010.
Key milestones include:
• 1939: Mandatory helmet requirements for all players
• 1973: Required mouth protectors
• 2010: NCAA forms concussion working group and requires management plans
• 2012: Kickoffs moved to 35-yard line to encourage touchbacks
• 2015: Five autonomy conferences pass enhanced safety protocols
• 2018: Fair catch rule inside 25-yard line promotes safety
NCAA vs NFL Protocol Comparison
Both leagues use similar approaches with key differences in implementation.
The NCAA sets general guidelines but allows individual schools to develop specific protocols. This creates variation across 136 FBS programs compared to the NFL’s centralized system for 32 teams.
The NFL uses five protocol stages while the NCAA requires six. The difference comes from the NCAA splitting the final return-to-play phase into separate full-contact practice and unrestricted game action stages.
The NCAA implemented its first formal concussion protocol during the 2010-2011 season. Officials continue refining the system as medical research advances and new safety data emerges.
Protocol enforcement combines mandatory institutional plans with annual athlete education and ongoing medical oversight.
