The Susquehanna University Sports Medicine Staff provides quality health care to ensure the well-being of each student-athlete.
All members of our staff are licensed and certified athletic trainers responsible for the prevention, evaluation, management, rehabilitation, and treatment of injuries or illnesses that may occur during athletic participation. We collaborate closely with Geisinger Medical System and surrounding medical facilities to offer the best care for our student-athletes.
For any questions or concerns, contact the Sports Medicine Staff at 570-372-4278.
Annual Requirements for Student-Athlete Eligibility
Please review the Annual Requirements for Student-Athlete Eligibility required for new and returning varsity student-athletes and complete all compliance tasks to ensure athletic eligibility for.
Health Insurance Requirement
All student-athletes must have valid commercial primary health insurance to participate in varsity athletics. A front and back image of your insurance card must be uploaded to your SportsWare account. Understanding your benefits is essential for effective medical care. If your primary insurance is an HMO or PPO, consider reassigning your primary doctor to the Selinsgrove area to prevent delays in non-emergency medical care.
Please review Susquehanna University's Secondary Insurance Policy on the EIIA website. Navigate to the "Students" section, then select the plan information for Susquehanna "Intercollegiate Athletes." This policy explains your coverage in the event of an injury during supervised intercollegiate athletic activities. Note that this policy does not cover pre-existing injuries or medical issues unrelated to athletic participation. Thoroughly read the plan information, as NAHGA coverage is an excess plan to your primary insurance. Any lapses in your health insurance may result in personal responsibility for incurred expenses. Failure to follow the procedures outlined in the insurance plan or providing incorrect or incomplete primary health insurance information can lead to denial of excess benefits, making you responsible for any balances.
Medications and Nutritional/Dietary Supplements
As a student-athlete, it is your responsibility to be aware of any medication or nutritional/dietary supplement you are taking and whether it is banned by the NCAA. Review the NCAA Banned Substances list, which includes drug classes used to treat certain medical conditions, such as ADD/ADHD. The NCAA recognizes that some banned substances are used for legitimate medical purposes and grants medical exceptions in these instances with appropriate documentation. This documentation is required if you are drug tested through the NCAA; however, it is not required by Susquehanna University for athletic clearance.
Concussion Safety
A concussion is a traumatic brain injury caused by a direct blow to the head, neck, or body, resulting in an impulsive force transmitted to the brain. Symptoms may appear immediately or evolve over time and can include:
- Headache or head pressure
- Nausea
- Balance problems or dizziness
- Double or blurry vision
- Sensitivity to light or noise
- Feeling sluggish, hazy, or foggy
- Confusion, concentration, or memory problems
If you suspect a concussion:
- Stop playing and inform your coach, athletic trainer, or team physician immediately.
- Follow medical advice during recovery. Proper management typically leads to full recovery.
- Support teammates by encouraging them to report symptoms and adhere to medical guidance.
Continuing to play after a concussion increases the risk of further injury and prolonged recovery. Always prioritize health and safety over competition. You can watch a video here to learn about the signs and symptoms of a concussion.
Sickle Cell Trait Awareness
Sickle cell trait is a hereditary condition that can affect red blood cells during intense physical activity, potentially leading to serious health issues. While many with the trait do not experience symptoms, under extreme conditions such as dehydration, high-intensity exercise, or high altitudes, complications can arise.
Student-athletes are encouraged to:
- Know their sickle cell trait status
- Inform coaching and medical staff of their status
- Engage in gradual conditioning and allow for adequate rest
- Stay hydrated and avoid extreme exertion, especially in hot conditions
Understanding and managing sickle cell trait is vital for safe athletic participation. To learn more, you can watch a pair of videos: Part I here and Part II here.
Mental Health and Athlete Burnout
Maintaining mental health is as crucial as physical health. Athlete burnout is a syndrome resulting from continual training and sport-related stress, leading to:
- Diminished performance or conditioning
- Chronic fatigue
- Increased resting heart rate and blood pressure
- Difficulty concentrating
- Decreased academic performance
- Moodiness and irritability
- Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness
Preventing and addressing burnout involves:
- Adequate rest and time away from sports
- Engaging in enjoyable activities outside of athletics
- Seeking support from mental health professionals when needed
Immediate attention is required if experiencing:
- Thoughts of self-harm or harming others
- Hearing voices or seeing things others do not
- Unexplained changes in thinking or behavior
- Sudden personality changes
Resources available include:
- Primary care physicians
- Local mental health centers
- University counseling services
- Employee assistance programs
For immediate crisis intervention, call or text 988 or visit the nearest emergency room.
Helping Student-Athletes in Crisis
Sometimes the signs of a developing psychological concern can be hard to notice. To help athletic trainers determine when to address growing concerns and take action, the National Athletic Trainers' Association ATs Care program has developed three stages of guidelines:
Raised Awareness
- Show a decline in athletic and/or academic performance
- Demonstrating disruptive and disturbing behavior
- Showing dramatic changes in appearance, behavior or weight
- Having problems at home, with classes or work
- Sad, anxious or experiencing dramatic mood shifts
- Abusing alcohol or drugs
- Isolating themselves socially
- Frequently angry or easily frustrated
- Struggling with health problems
- Absent from class
- Have a declining appearance
If you notice emotional behavior: Approach the individual and encourage a mental wellness evaluation.
Growing Concern
- Making disturbing comments in conversation, email, letters, social media postings or papers
- Acting paranoid or suspicious
- Making statements that are not reasonable or congruent with reality
- Mentioning (even jokingly) suicide or death
- Bullying or being bullied
- Severely declining appearance
If you notice bizarre or irrational behavior: Discuss with the individual and with direct reports the concern and need for a mental wellness evaluation.
Take Action
- Hitting, kicking or shoving others; possessing a weapon with intent or threat to harm others
- Throwing objects with intent to harm others
- Screaming intentions of doing harm to another individual
- Suicide attempt
- Sexually abusive
- Extreme risk-taker where safety is at risk
If you notice aggressive behavior: Inform direct report. In an emergency, activate your emergency action plan and/or school emergency mental health plan. When dealing with someone who is physically threatening, your and others' safety comes first.
Referral Phone Numbers
Call 911 immediately if a person is a threat to themselves or others.
On campus:
Off campus:
