Tuesday Sept. 15 was the premiere practice for the NWHL’s Connecticut Whale, and media got the first look at the new league’s preparation for, and planned responses to, concussions on the part of their athletes.

One of the first steps for players was the baseline station with a trainer employed by the league, where they proceeded through a series of memory tests. Some were as simple as knowing the day and date, others required players to repeat a series of numbers given to them–backwards.

The baseline tests are designed to figure out what will be an accurate measure of whether or not a player has a concussion. If a player regularly doesn’t know the date or can’t say the months backwards, that won’t be a good measure of concussion.

After memory tests came balance tests, which some players, such as defenseman Molly Engstrom, conducted in heels. The women were asked to stand with their feet spread shoulder-width, and hands on hips, with their eyes closed for a certain amount of time. Then again, but with one foot in front of the other. Next, on their dominant foot only. Any serious wobbling in the baseline test indicated balance issues that, like memory problems, would have to be taken into account in the event of testing for an actual concussion.

The league has also engaged the services of team dentists to develop mouthguards molded specifically to players’ individual jaws and teeth in an effort to help prevent concussion. However, athletic trainers will be the professionals relied upon to deal with concussions when they occur.

Per league founder and Commissioner Dani Rylan, who spoke with the media Wednesday at the New York Riveters media day and premiere practice, the NWHL plans to follow USA Hockey concussion protocol, which takes a hard-line stance on treatment of concussions.

The protocol for responses to possible, probable or certain concussions, which can be found here, are as follows.

When a player shows ANY symptoms or signs of a concussion: The player should not be allowed to return to play in the current game or practice.

The player should not be left alone; and regular monitoring for deterioration is essential.

The player should be medically evaluated after the injury.

Return to play must follow a medically supervised stepwise process.

A player should never return to play when symptomatic. “When in doubt, sit them out!”

Furthermore, when players want to return to play they must follow a step-by-step process before they can be cleared for a return to a competitive environment.

Proceed to the next level if free of symptoms at the current level. If any symptoms or signs occur, drop back to the previous level and progress to the next level again after 24 hours. No activity, complete rest. Light aerobic activity, exercise such a walking or stationary cycling. Sports specific training- skating. Non-contact training drills. Full-contact training after clearance by a sports medicine professional Return to competition

Concussions, and the long-term effects of multiple concussions, have been in the media frequently of late when it comes to professional sports. The NHL is currently facing a lawsuit by players, alleging that the league concealed the risks of concussions and developing serious brain diseases that could come from playing hockey in the NHL.

As such, getting in front of potential concussions and setting a standard for safety is in the NWHL’s best interest, both publicity-wise and due to the smallness of their rosters, which hold 18 players, only 15 of which are skaters.

Women in ice hockey are also known to have a higher incidence rate of concussions than men. A 2014 NCAA study shows that among NCAA athletes, women who play ice hockey at the varsity level are more likely than men to suffer one or multiple concussions throughout their playing careers.

Should an NWHL team lose even one player to a concussion over the course of a season, particularly if it is a high-impact player, that could put them in jeopardy when it comes to making a bid for the Isobel Cup in March.

However, the concussion protocol and use of practice players–players who can suit up for a game if needed, but otherwise will only participate in practices to round out the numbers, also essentially acting as a development league for the NWHL–takes steps to avoid any real difficulties there.

The NWHL is just getting started, working out the kinks of a new system, and it is likely their response to concussion will evolve over time, perhaps even incorporating a “concussion spotter” system the NHL is in the process of implementing, which was borrowed from the NFL.

The trainers attached to each team will be present every time the women take the ice, including traveling with the team on away games. This ensures that someone who knows players and works with them on a regular basis will be the one checking for concussion, making diagnosis easier.

This, for now, is good groundwork for the NWHL to lay with their athletes. As the season wears on the league may find the system needs revamping, but following USA Hockey concussion protocol, implementing baseline tests and fitting players with proper equipment are setting a solid foundation for a safe environment for players.