The first football games of the 2015 season will begin in the next few weeks. Coaches, athletic personnel, and state high school officials were at work long before the season began to prepare players to play a safer sport this season. A lot of discussions about athletic safety have involved the topic of concussions. In order to get the latest information about concussion management for high school athletes, In The Game High School Sports Magazine asked the executive director of the Georgia High School Association (GHSA), Gary Phillips, a few questions about the issue, as well as about the GHSA and his role as the leader of the organization.
In The Game: How long have you been Executive Director of the Georgia High School Association?
Gary Phillips: Since July 1, 2014
ITG: Do you have a sports or coaching background?
GP: I played several sports in high school and college. I coached a number of sports in my teaching career; football, track mostly—also coached cross country, wrestling (one year) and golf (six years). Overall, I coached for 17 years before entering school administration.
ITG: How many high schools are served by the GHSA?
GP: 455
ITG: What sports are recognized or sanctioned by the GHSA?
GP: We recognize 23 sports, 12 women’s and 11 men’s sports.
ITG: Concussions have gained a lot of attention in recent years when discussing sports-related injuries among high school athletes. In your opinion, why has there been a focus on concussion injuries?
GP: Concussions moved to the forefront of athletic conversations largely with the publicity coming from debilitating physical and mental conditions of ex-professional football players. The NFL opened the conversations in this issue, and all levels of athletics have joined the discussions. As the topic evolved, more research and more exhaustive data has emerged to present a clearer picture of the causes and effects of concussion in sports. We have learned football is not the only sport with concerns for concussion; the injury is a part of the negatives in almost every form of competition and at almost all levels. Increased education and public awareness contribute greatly to what we know in comparison to years past. Athletes are better informed; parents, coaches, and others are better informed—and we know more in the area of recovery and risk management. While the problem will never go away, athletes are better protected.
ITG: Does the GHSA have any stats relating to the number of concussion injuries suffered by high school athletes in Georgia in recent years?
GP: We do not collect or catalogue injuries through our offices.
ITG: What steps has the GHSA taken to help coaches and athletic personnel identify concussion injuries and assist in concussion management?
GP: The GHSA has adopted “concussion protocols and return to play regulations” for injured athletes. All GHSA coaches are required to receive concussion education at least every two years. Coaches are required to view a web-based video produced by the NFHS on “Concussion in Sport.”
ITG: Are there any new developments in concussion injury management that will go into effect for the 2015-16 athletic school year?
GP: We implemented our requirements three years ago. Our latest injury management policy comes in regulations limiting the amount of time football players can be involved in full contact activities each day and each week.
ITG: What are the basic GHSA guidelines or policies regarding concussion injury for high school athletes?
GP: Our football contact regulations limit these activities to 30 minutes per day; 90 minutes per week in the regular season. Our “return to play” regulations are detailed in our constitution and by-laws.
ITG: What is the best thing about being the executive director of the Georgia High School Association?
GP: I find the vast activities of the GHSA to be challenging each and every day. I began my education career in athletics. Later I spent 17 years in school administration, and now I have the opportunity to return to my roots, so to speak, by being involved at this level in all facets of high school athletics.
Name: Gary Phillips
Job Title: Executive Director, Georgia High School Association
Hometown: Peachtree City, Georgia
Education: BS in Ed—Maryville College (Tennessee)
MEd—Georgia State University
Ed.S.—University of West Georgia
Family: Wife—Barbara, retired teacher and nurse
Son—Bart
Daughter-in-law—Katy
Grandchildren—Payne (5), Brynn (2)
Hobbies/Leisure activities: Golf; working my yard
Person/people you most admire: My dad (Claude Phillips) and my high school coaches
Columbus Valley/10 Questions/August 2015
Gary Phillips, Exec. Dir., GHSA
By Beth Welch
Photo courtesy of GHSA
