Union City Football Club, LLC

Summer Soccer Training & Tryouts – August 3-22, 2026

Concussion Awareness Program

Effective Date: June 30, 2026

1. Purpose

This Concussion Awareness and Response Program is adopted by Union City Football Club, LLC (“UCFC”) to support participant safety during the UCFC Summer Soccer Training & Tryouts from August 3 through August 22, 2026.

This Program should be read together with Section 4, “Health, Safety, and Medical Care,” of the UCFC Training & Tryout Participation Agreement. It applies to all participants, coaches, staff members, volunteers, parents/guardians, and spectators involved in Program activities.

Program activities may take place at the locations identified in the Participation Agreement, including Pier 42, East River Park, Peter’s Field, St. Vartan Park, Robert Moses Playground, Wards Island Park, DeWitt Clinton Park, Chelsea Park, or another suitable location reasonably selected by UCFC.

2. What Is a Concussion?

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly.

A concussion can occur during soccer through player contact, falls, heading the ball, contact with a ball, goal, ground, equipment, or another object. A player does not need to lose consciousness to have a concussion, and concussion symptoms may not appear immediately.

3. Common Signs and Symptoms

A player may report:

  • Headache or pressure in the head

  • Nausea or vomiting

  • Dizziness, balance problems, or blurred vision

  • Sensitivity to light or noise

  • Feeling sluggish, foggy, groggy, confused, or “not right”

  • Difficulty concentrating or remembering

  • Sleep changes, irritability, or emotional changes

A coach, staff member, volunteer, parent/guardian, or other responsible adult may notice that a player:

  • Appears dazed, stunned, confused, or unusually quiet

  • Moves clumsily or has balance problems

  • Responds slowly to questions or instructions

  • Cannot recall events before or after a hit or fall

  • Shows unusual behavior or personality changes

  • Loses consciousness, even briefly

4. UCFC Response Protocol

4.1 Immediate Removal

If a coach, staff member, volunteer, parent/guardian, or other responsible adult suspects that a Participant may have sustained a concussion, the Participant will be removed from training, scrimmages, games, and other soccer activity immediately.

When in doubt, sit them out.

The Participant may not return to any UCFC activity on the same day, regardless of how the Participant feels or what the Parent/Guardian believes.

4.2 Parent/Guardian Notification

UCFC will make reasonable efforts to notify the Parent/Guardian promptly. If the Parent/Guardian cannot be reached, UCFC may contact the emergency contact listed in registration.

The supervising coach or staff member should document the incident, including the date, approximate time, observed event, reported symptoms, action taken, and parent/guardian notification efforts.

4.3 Emergency Medical Services

UCFC staff may call 911 without waiting to reach a Parent/Guardian when emergency circumstances reasonably require it.

Emergency medical services should be called if the Participant has symptoms such as:

  • Loss of consciousness

  • Seizure

  • Repeated vomiting

  • Slurred speech

  • Unequal pupils

  • Increasing confusion, agitation, or unusual behavior

  • Extreme drowsiness or inability to awaken

  • A worsening headache

  • Neck pain, weakness, numbness, or signs of spinal injury

4.4 Return to UCFC Activity

A Participant removed because of a suspected concussion may not return to activity on the same day.

Before the Participant returns to a later UCFC activity, UCFC may require written clearance from a licensed healthcare professional, consistent with Section 4.3 of the Participation Agreement. UCFC may also require written clearance after a serious injury, illness, hospitalization, surgery, or other medical event.

UCFC coaches, staff members, and volunteers are not responsible for diagnosing concussions or making medical decisions. Parents/Guardians should seek medical evaluation whenever a concussion is suspected.

5. Responsibilities

Coaches, Staff, and Volunteers must:

  • Know the signs and symptoms of a possible concussion.

  • Remove a Participant immediately when a concussion is suspected.

  • Never permit same-day return to activity.

  • Notify the Parent/Guardian or emergency contact as promptly as reasonably possible.

  • Call 911 when emergency symptoms are present or emergency care is reasonably needed.

  • Document the incident and follow UCFC’s communication procedures.

Parents/Guardians must:

  • Provide complete and current medical and emergency-contact information during registration.

  • Inform UCFC of relevant prior concussion history, activity restrictions, medications, or health changes that may affect safe participation.

  • Keep emergency contacts current and remain reachable during sessions.

  • Monitor the Participant after a suspected concussion and seek appropriate medical care.

  • Provide written medical clearance when UCFC requests it before the Participant returns.

6. Player Education

At the beginning of the Program, UCFC will remind Participants that they should promptly report any head injury, dizziness, headache, confusion, vision problem, nausea, or other symptom that may indicate a concussion.

Participants will not be penalized for honestly reporting symptoms or asking to stop activity.

7. Documentation and Records

UCFC may keep records relating to suspected concussions, including incident notes, parent/guardian communications, and any written medical clearance submitted to UCFC.

UCFC will handle these records consistent with its Participation Agreement and its reasonable administrative, safety, insurance, and legal needs.

8. Parent/Guardian Notice

This Concussion Awareness and Response Program is provided as part of UCFC’s participant-safety information for the August 3–22, 2026 Summer Soccer Training & Tryouts.

Parents/Guardians should review this Program before participation and should contact UCFC at ucfc.nyc@gmail.com with questions or updated medical information.

Union City Football Club, LLC  •  ucfc.nyc@gmail.com

• Summer Soccer Training & Tryouts 2026  •  August 3–22, 2026  •  East River Park Grand Street Soccer 01 & Pier 42