A task force is recommending new safety measures, including a certified trainer at all schools, in the wake of recent student athlete deaths.

At a Wednesday meeting, board members from the North Carolina High School Athletic Association announced they would work towards implementing nine recommendations by a safety task force to reduce the number of head injuries by high school athletes.

"In concept, we support the recommendations," said Bill Harrison, the president of the NCHSAA board of directors.

The recommendations come from a public safety task force set up by the NCHSAA.

The recommendations include the following:

1. Require all schools to employ a certified athletic trainer
2. Keep athletes from continuing to participate with their sport on the same day that a suspected concussion has occurred
3. Require a physician's release before allowing athletes to return to a sport following a concussion injury.
4. Store athletic trainer credentials on file
5. Develop an emergency action plan at all schools
6. Verify that all coaches and athletics personnel understand the school's Emergency Action Plan
7. Require Schools to adopt a standardized pre-participation examination form
8. Implement mandatory, standardized testing for athletes who might have a concussion
9. Require athletics personnel to attend mandatory education programs

"We feel that it would be prudent for the NCHSAA to take the lead," Harrison said to the group.

On August 12, Chapel Hill High School player Atlas Frayley died after feeling sick at practice. Just over a week later, Matt Gfeller from Winston-Salem died two days after taking a hit to the head in a game. Then three weeks ago, Juquan Waller from J-H rose High School in Greenville died after collapsing on the sideline. He had suffered a concussion two days earlier, before being hit again in that game.

Harrison said the association would create a checklist to chart the progress of implementing the recommendations.

Que Tucker, the deputy director of the association said six out of the nine recommendations have already been set up. She said schools are already developing emergency plans, and students are already required to get a doctor's note when they get a concussion before returning to practice.

Tucker and Harrison agree the most costly recommendation will be to employ a Certified Athletic Trainer for all schools.

According to the recommendations, salaries for certified athletic trainers start at $ 40,000 each.

"There are a number of entities across the state who have ownership with this entire issue," said Harrison.

The board's president the association would meet with lawmakers, the State Department of Public Instruction, the association of School Administrators and other agencies to come up with a budget for the proposed new position.

"It took kind of a bit of discussion to get us to that point," Harrison said, but he pledged to continue with plans to implement each of the task force's recommendations.

The multi-agency meeting is expected to take place in January.

Related Link: Athletic Officials Review Safety Recommendations