Debra Runkle chairs the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports. She is university medical coordinator, head athletic trainer and assistant athletic director at the University of Dubuque.

Q: Can you give a sense of how the competitive-safeguards committee monitors developments for an ongoing medical issue like concussions?
A:  An issue or concern for the health and safety of the student-athlete may be presented to the committee by the membership, sports rules committee, member of the organization or associations such as the National Athletic Trainers Association. The competitive-safeguards committee meets bi-annually, as well as via telephone conferencing, on pertinent items that have been brought forward, in addition to updating pre-existing guidelines, protocols and proposals. 

Q: The committee has a long history with this issue. Can you frame the current point for the committee’s discussions?
A: The competitive-safeguards committee continually reviews and seeks expertise on various health and safety topics regarding the student-athlete. As in past meetings, the committee in December will be discussing concussions and the point at which a safe return to participation is possible. We gather information from various sports medicine personnel and their organizations. The committee then discusses how this impacts the student-athlete’s care, both from the NCAA-wide and institutional standpoints.

Q: What kinds of concerns must the committee balance in making its recommendations on an issue?
A: The committee places the welfare of the student-athlete first and foremost. We consider divisional uniqueness, such access to health-care providers and individual sport-specific rules. We also take into consideration the role of the institution autonomy and local medical care.

Q: What outcome does the committee try to have at the end of a discussion of a safety issue, whether it’s Monday’s scheduled discussion of concussions or other ongoing issues?
A: An outcome at our meetings could be to establish new guidelines or seek out further sources for review of pertinent issues. On a more formal level, the committee may recommend new or revised policy, such as the 2006 guideline on depression; a sport playing rule, such as the 2003 women’s  lacrosse protective eyewear; or legislation, such as the  2007 medical-examination requirement.