The National Football League (NFL) adopted a new policy Tuesday that is intended to further protect players from the consequences of continued play when suffering a head injury. The ruling allows for input from athletic trainers in spotting signs of concussion or disorientation, and it enables them to stop play so that the athlete can have further evaluation.

As the NFL has put a focus on head injuries, the number of concussive events has gone down in recent years — 123 incidents in 2014, 152 in 2013 and 171 in 2012, but the identification of those suffering a head injury is still problematic.

The new policy further expands the role of the independent athletic trainer for concussions (ATC) that was established by the NFL in 2011. The 2011 policy provides for a certified athletic trainer at each game to monitor both teams. The trainer is positioned in a booth with access to video replay and could be in direct communication with the medical staffs of both teams.

However, the trainer had no authority to remove a player from play. The 2015 policy changes this. If the trainer observes that a player "displays obvious signs of disorientation or is clearly unstable" and remains in the game, the trainer can contact the officials to stop play immediately and receive medical attention.

"We do not expect this to be a rule that gets used a lot," Atlanta Falcons President Rich McKay, the chair of the NFL competition committee, told Bloomberg Business. "We expect it to be a fail-safe when people just don't see this player and the distress the player may have had.

"Really it came a little bit from the health and safety committee just saying, 'We got the ATC spotters, they've got a really good vantage point, they've got technology in their booth, they're communicating pretty well with our trainers and doctors."

Some of the motivation for the policy change came from concerns during the Super Bowl when New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman appeared disorientated after taking a hit to the helmet, but remained in the game.

Other influences may include more medical professional input than in previous seasons.

The NFL appointed their first chief health and medical advisor in February. Dr. Elizabeth G. Nabel was selected for this role. The policy change and expanded role of medical advisory professionals is an indication that the NFL is taking the health and well-being of their players more seriously.