Puking on the Field

[TXMike]

After a play last night, L notices a O lineman puke.  Kid did not just lose it once, he had multiple upchucks.  L shut it down and told R what he had seen.  R asked home trainer to come to field to "sanitize" the area and ordered the player to leave for a down.   Seemed reasonable to me. But kid's coach was not pleased.  Said there is no rule that justified ordering him off for a down.  I believe the injured player rule DOES apply not only because the act in itself should be considered an "injury" but the fact vomiting is a sign/symptom of concussion is also reason for him to go get checked out.  Thoughts?

[110]

Vomiting is a warning sign of concussion, yes.

[Rulesman]

Agree with both. Kid's coach needs to get a life, too.

[centexsports]

If I stop the clock for injury, slow to get up or illness, he's going out for a play.

[NVFOA_Ump]

Absolutely correct!  Nausea or vomiting are two of the key red flags that potentially indicate a concussion.  No question IMO that the player should be sent to the sideline and get clearance from the training/medical staff before returning to the field.  There are multiple references in the rulebook that direct officials and coaches to be proactive in getting a player who shows any signs of a possible concussion off of the field immediately.

Just one of them is from Appendix C in the 2012-2013 Rulebook:

IF A CONCUSSION IS SUSPECTED:

1. Remove the student-athlete from play.

2. Ensure that the student-athlete is evaluated right away by an appropriate health care professional.

[NorCalMike]

Although nausea and vomiting are signs of concussion, without an seeing a actual hit that could have lead to a concussion, I would not say this is a concussion or concussion like symptoms. There are any number of things that cause vomiting. I have seen plenty of football players vomit during games and practice. Almost never is this related to a head injury.

I would handle this just like I would handle a bleeding player. Since vomit can contain infectious diseases just like blood, it is important to clean up the mess and make sure the player's uniform is clean.

[James]

We had a guy on our team (player) that would throw up shortly before every game from nerves.
It got so that we could predict it.
Then after years of it, he managed to make it through a pregame without chucking... Only to do so in the second play...

[NVFOA_Ump]

The point here is that we have been instructed with language now in the 2012-2013 rule book that when we see signs of a possible concussion we should have the player leave the field and the training/medical staff then makes the call.  It is not our call to make.

[Welpe]

I see no reason why this doesn't fall under an injury or signs of concussion. It's one play, let the player get looked at to ensure it's not something more.

And at least it wasn't the center upchucking on the ball just as he's getting ready to snap it as what happened in one of my games a couple of years ago.