@article{ref1,
title="Secondary school state athletic association health and safety policy development processes",
journal="Journal of school health",
year="2024",
author="Yeargin, Susan and Hirschhorn, Rebecca M. and Adams, William M. and Scarneo-Miller, Samantha E.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="BACKGROUND: The National Federation of State High School Associations provides recommendations regarding health and safety policies; however, policy development is governed at the state level. Given interstate differences in governance, the primary purpose was to describe processes that State High School Athletic Associations (SHSAAs) utilize to develop a new policy. The secondary objective was to determine what methods associations use to implement new policies. <br><br>METHODS: A cross-sectional survey requested SHSAA (n = 51) representatives to report how athlete health and safety policies are introduced, revised, approved, and implemented within their state. The 22-question survey was developed to gather variables for the aims of the study. Descriptive statistics were calculated for each survey item. <br><br>RESULTS: Of states who responded (n = 33), most reported a 2-committee (n = 24, 72.7%) process for developing and vetting policies, with initiation from the Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (n = 27, 81.8%), followed by an executive-level committee (n = 18, 66.7%). States reported total time from policy initiation to final approval ranged from 2 weeks to over 12 months. When a new policy was approved, most states indicated implementation began with an e-mail (n = 24, 72.7%) sent to Athletic Directors (n = 26, 78.8%). School principal or district superintendent were reported as the position in charge of compliance (36.4%, n = 12). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Most SHSAAs use a 2-step process to write and review an athlete health and safety policy before approval. SHSAAs that require a longer policy development time could delay the implementation of important health measures. SHSAAs could consider additional communication methods to ensure information reaches all stakeholders.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0022-4391",
doi="10.1111/josh.13454",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/josh.13454"
}