It’s officially 2016 and GFSC’s spring season is fast approaching. In anticipation, we are announcing our new partnership with Inova Sports Medicine (press release attached) and an exciting PRE-SEASON program to ensure all our players complete concussion education and baseline testing BEFORE our players hit the field for spring!

As a reminder, Concussion Baseline testing is meant to provide important data regarding each player’s pre-injury cognitive abilities in the event they suffer any type of head trauma doing what kids do;  playing soccer, or recreating at home or away from home. Together with a comprehensive evaluation, this baseline data is a useful tool used to evaluate cognitive abilities following any type of head trauma to provide medical experts the data they need to ensure each concussion is cared for and managed properly.

Thanks to Inova Sports Medicine’s own large testing facility in Falls Church (Epic Training Center, 8111 Gatehouse Road, Falls Church VA 22042), GFSC has reserved two Saturday dates. One on Saturday, January30, and one on Saturday, February 20, so that ALL OF OUR PLAYERS (ages 10 and up) can complete this important assessment prior to the beginning of our spring season. Please use the following link to sign up for either of those dates. http://www.inova.org/concussioneducation. The cost for one ImPACT Concussion Baseline screening is $30/person. Testing typically takes under one hour and testing times range from9AM until 2PM with start times on the hour. Because Inova Sports Medicine’s facility can accommodate 60 people at each session, be sure to connect with your teammates and neighbors and go as a group! We want all of our members to get tested ASAP!

**Parents, Inova Sports Medicine knows that we lead an active lifestyle as well. If you would like to complete an ImPACT Baseline test for yourself, please register for the same time as your child. **

Parents, please take this opportunity to sign up your player and plan on making this visit to Inova Sports Medicine for Baseline testing an annual event. It is recommended that every athlete establishes a new baseline each year until high school and then every other year during high school. For a nominal fee of $30 this ImPACT Concussion Baseline test will provide peace-of-mind in the event your child sustains any kind of head injury – you will have data available to medical experts at Inova Sports Medicine (or to your own medical professional(s)) to ensure your child’s brain injury is fully and successfully treated.