This document outlines a color-coded zone system for managing student concussions with 5 zones of increasing activity: Zone 1 (Red) indicates no school, rest at home with no academics, work, or physical activity. Zone 2 (Orange) allows partial school attendance with instructional modifications and limited activity. Zone 3 (Yellow) is full school day attendance with modifications as needed. Zone 4 (Blue) is full attendance with limited modifications and increasing workload. Zone 5 (Green) indicates full participation with no modifications needed and clearance for athletics. The zones provide structured guidance for gradual return to learning and activities as recovery progresses.

1. Concussion Management
Color Code Zone Protocols

2. Zone 1- NO School
Red
Student /Athlete is to stay at home or at rest (infirmary/clinic). Student has the
option of going home with family or guardian for full rest, or may stay in the
infirmary/clinic for rest.
NO Homework
Cognitive Shut Down: This Includes: Academics, Social involvements and events,
as well as the use of Technology (computers, cell phones, games, TV, etc.) –with
the exception of contacting family or guardian.
NO Work at home or at school (no physical job or labor or physically active
practices, games, weight training, running, ROTC, Marching drills, Parades,
etc..).
NO Band or Chorus practices, no Physical Education, High Flight, or ROTC Drills.
No Flying, No Driving, No Athletics, No Band or Chorus, ROTC early flight or
marching.
No Extracurricular activities ON or OFF campus: (meaning NO town leave, no
scheduled on campus events, no field trips or off campus dinners).

3. This student has suffered a concussion and should
currently be resting both cognitively and physically at
home or in clinic. This student has been instructed by
RMA Medical Staff to avoid all academic work and to
avoid any symptom exacerbation. Upon their return to
classes and activities, they may not have all the
assignments up to date and also will probably need to
reduce the pace or quantity of work for several days.
We will update the students status as appropriate upon
continued re assessment and evaluation of the student.
Upon the students return to classes and activities, the
student and teachers, coaches, instructors will need to
discuss any missed work and upcoming assignments to
develop a plan that encourages gradual completion of
assignments as recovery progresses.

4. Zone 2- Partial Attendance
Orange
Instructional Modifications
Limited/partial class attendance = Examples: student may only attend class for a half
of day (morning or afternoon), or may only attend each class for 15 minutes. This will
allow for student to start to get back into classes and gradually do each without
getting overwhelmed or increasing symptoms. Or may adjust schedule by attending
one day and not the next.
Rest breaks during class= student may need to put head down on desk and rest or
leave class to go to clinic to rest if exertion is too much. Student may lay head on desk
with eyes closed but actively listen to classroom instructions.
Limited class work/testing
“Clear Desk”= this means no written work for student auditory learning in classroom
only, minimal reading more listening
Utilizing teacher notes or a peer taking notes for them.
Flying, Driving, Athletics, Band or Chorus, ROTC early flight or marching,
Extracurricular activities ON or OFF campus: (meaning town leave, scheduled on
campus events, field trips or off campus dinners) are limited participation as directed
by the RMA Sports Medicine Team.

5. This student is under the care of the RMA medical
staff. They may be attending partial school days
and /or need to limit the amount of time in a
particular class and will most likely not have
completed some assignments. Students in this
recovery zone may benefit from significant
instructional modifications to limit the exacerbation
of concussion symptoms.

6. Zone 3- Attend Full School Day
Yellow
Partial class attendance with instructional modifications = classroom
participation as tolerated. Clear desktop or Desktop only. This means
provide Smartboard notes in handout form to student. They should not
have to look up then down, up then down. This can recreate symptoms
created for those having vestibular/ ocular problems. So providing a
handout of the board notes is very helpful for this student. They should be
able to keep eyes on desk and listen. They will attend a full day of school,
but not necessarily a full class day.
Limited workload- Mental and Physical rest within the classroom. The
student may still need periods of eyes closed, head down, just listening.
Need to have the option of not actively working but actively listening.
Emphasis on formative rather than summative assessments.
Develop and maintain a schedule for completing assignments.
Flying, Driving, Athletics, ROTC early flight are limited to participation as
directed by the RMA Sports Medicine Team.
May Return to Band and Chorus, Marching, and ON CAMPUS events as long
as symptoms allow (meaning no headaches, no sensitivity to light or
sounds).

7. This student will be attempting to complete a full
school day but may need to limit time attending any
class that causes concussion symptoms to resurface
and /or intensify. For some this may be math, for
others classes with a lot of reading involved. This all
can depend on the class content, time of day, and the
method of instruction.

8. Zone 4- Attend Full School Day
Blue
• Full class attendance with limited instructional
modifications. The student should attend a full day of
school and each class a full class.
• Increasing return to normal workload. Instructional
modifications still in use, but to be determined by the
teacher or instructor based on a case by case individual
need.
• Should be increasing amounts of class work/testing
including summative assessments.
• Actively working on completing missed assignments.
• Flying, Driving, Athletics, and ROTC early flight are
limited participation as directed by the RMA Sports
Medicine Team.

9. This student should be attending a full school day
and be in attendance for and participating in the
entire class period with minimal instructional
modifications in place.
These modifications may be utilized to reduce any
residual concussion symptoms and foster the most
appropriate learning environment during the final
stages of the student’s recovery. Please alert the
RMA medical staff and the Academic
Administrators if the student is not able to
maintain classroom attendance due to concussion
symptoms.

10. Zone 5- Full School Participation
Green
No Instructional Modifications needed.
The Student Athlete May not return to athletic or
physical participation of any kind until they are on
Green, Zone 5. Meaning they must be able to
accomplish all Academics without symptoms
before it is safe for them to start physical
participation of any kind.
May Return to Flying, Driving and Athletics, and
ROTC morning flight - Once cleared by Medical
Staff.
May resume normal daily activities, and off campus
functions.

11. Credit To:
The “Zone Concept” was designed by Fairfax
Family Practice Comprehensive Concussion
Center and is used in the Fairfax County
Public Schools. This information was
presented at the ImPACT Training Workshop
2014 by Jon Almquist, ATC, VATL Formerly of
Fairfax County Public Schools, Former
Athletic Training Program Administrator,
Concussion Specialist Fairfax Family Practice
Comprehensive Concussion Center , Fairfax,
VA.