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October 9, 2025—Millions around the globe enjoy sports and follow their teams passionately. Most fans, however, watch athletic events without ever thinking about the safety measures and emergency plans put in place for critical response. From severe weather procedures to major injuries in the game, many things require preparation and a coordinated effort to address unexpected occurrences in a timely and comprehensive manner.
During a Monday Night Football game in early 2023, an on-field collision between two players caused a major medical emergency. Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin made what looked to be a routine tackle but collapsed seconds afterward. It was later determined that he had suffered a very rare—and usually fatal—disruption of his heartbeat. The immediate action by available medical personnel saved his life.
This incident captured national attention, and sports and medical professionals have used it as an example of why preparedness is so critical. Athletic leaders across Cobb Schools studied and discussed what happened, and as a result, they have taken a proactive step to strengthen emergency preparedness at sporting events in Cobb. What began as an idea from Osborne High School Athletic Director Ron Boggs is now a districtwide best practice known as the “20-Minute Meeting.”
Learning from the Pros
Cobb’s Director of Athletics, Don Baker, held an athletic directors’ meeting to review what contributed to the successful emergency response that saved Hamlin’s life. One major takeaway was the NFL’s mandatory 90-minute pregame medical meeting, held before every game to review the Emergency Action Plan (EAP).
“That meeting ensures everyone involved — from trainers and EMTs to stadium personnel — knows their role, as well as the other individuals, before an emergency ever happens,” Baker explained. “It’s putting a face with a role so that it’s not the first time you’re seeing that person when something goes wrong.”
Turning 90 Minutes into 20
Building on that model, AD Boggs adapted the concept for high school athletics.
“He calls it the ‘20-Minute Meeting,’” Baker said. “It happens 20 minutes before kickoff and includes all the key personnel: officials, administrators, school resource officers, EMTs, athletic directors, trainers, and coaches from both schools.”
The meeting lasts about five minutes but has proven invaluable. Before every football game, this group gathers at midfield to quickly review the EAP to ensure everyone knows their role if action is needed.
“It’s the most valuable five minutes of the night,” Baker emphasized. “When you see that group on the field before kickoff, that’s exactly what they’re doing—reviewing how to respond if something goes wrong.”
Real Results on the Field
The importance of the 20-Minute Meeting became clear in the first week of the 2025 season. Severe weather impacted several of the games around Cobb County and the evacuation aspect of the EAP quickly needed to be put into action.
“We had just finished our 20-minute meeting at Osborne. Moments later, we had to implement it, and it went smoothly because everyone knew exactly what to do,” Baker recalled.
A recent example involved a medical emergency on the sidelines of a Cobb game. The EAP was immediately activated, and the student got the help and care he needed and was quickly transported to a nearby medical facility for follow-up.
One of Cobb's sports correspondents, Brad McBrayer, was on-site for the game and reported how flawlessly the EAP went into action.
"Once it became obvious that there was a medical emergency, it was noticeable to me how everything slowed down. No one was frantically running around in distress. Both school athletic directors, the EMTs, and the school trainers calmly and deliberately moved into action. What that said to me is that this was something for which they were fully prepared. The success of their response had been determined much earlier," McBrayer said.
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That kind of preparedness directly supports the Athletic Department’s top two priorities: student safety and the student-athlete experience.
Continuous Improvement
Each 20-Minute Meeting is also an opportunity to learn and improve. Hillgrove Athletic Director Jonathan Brown and his staff demonstrated a new nonverbal signal system at a recent home game.
“Their trainer gave a simple ‘X’ with his arms — a silent cue to EMTs meaning ‘I need you now,’” Baker said. “It’s a great idea that can save precious seconds, and we’re encouraging others to adopt it. Every time we do it, we get better, and that’s what it’s all about—keeping our students and student-athletes safe.”
While the Georgia High School Association does not require such meetings, Cobb County is leading the way.
“We took the initiative, and we’re doing this because it’s needed. Other districts are following our lead because they see its value and importance,” Baker concluded.
Looking Ahead
Because the EAP is different for outdoor and indoor events, the 20-minute Meeting is currently required at every football and basketball game. As schools refine their EAPs, other sports may include the pregame meeting in the future.
Cobb’s 20-Minute Meeting represents much more than a policy or a procedural goal. It’s another example of the District’s relentless commitment to be the Best Place to Teach, Lead, Learn… and Play.
