Medical Observer · Andrews Athlete
In-game Medical Observer monitoring for college football
Andrews Athlete provides independent Football Medical Observers who watch every snap from the replay booth, giving players an added layer of protection when a head or neck injury might otherwise go unseen.
Conference Partners
Monitoring Big 12 and Pac-12 football
Andrews Athlete currently provides in-game Medical Observer monitoring for Big 12 and Pac-12 Conference games.
The Role
An independent set of eyes on every player
Each game is staffed by a qualified medical professional who serves as an independent Football Medical Observer. The Observer works from the replay booth or another secure location, with access to the medical replay system and direct communication with the replay official and the medical staffs of both teams.
- Watches forSigns of concussion, disorientation, or a head or neck injury.
- Acts whenA player appears to need medical attention and is not being attended to by the team's medical staff.
- Leaves to the teamEvery evaluation and return-to-play decision, which remain solely with the institution's medical staff.
Our Observers
Identified, vetted, educated and trained every week
Andrews Athlete works with each conference to build and support its Medical Observer team.
Identify
We work with the conference to identify qualified medical professionals to serve as Observers.
Vet
Each candidate is vetted for transparency before being assigned to games.
Educate
Observers are educated on their role, the conference policy and the medical stop process before the season.
Train weekly
Training continues every week of the season with tutorial video reviews of game injuries.
How a Medical Stop Works
From the booth to the sideline in seconds
- Identify. The Observer sees clear visual evidence of a possible concussion or head or neck injury and alerts the replay official with the player's team and jersey number.
- Notify. The Observer contacts the player's medical staff to explain why the player appears to need attention.
- Stop. The replay official relays the information to the Referee, who stops play while the ball is dead and announces "Time Out, Medical Stop" without naming the player.
- Evaluate. The team's medical staff evaluates the player off the field and makes the return-to-play decision under its own protocols.
When a player leaves the field on his own with signs of disorientation or a head or neck injury, the Observer notifies that team's medical staff directly.