§ 22-11E-2 — Athletic Head Injury Safety Training

(a) Each local school system and governing body of each sport or recreational organization shall develop guidelines and other pertinent information and forms to inform and educate youth athletes and their parents or guardians in their program of the nature and risk of concussion and brain injury, including continuing to play after a suspected concussion or brain injury. On a yearly basis, a concussion and head injury information sheet shall be signed and returned by the youth athlete and the athlete’s parent or guardian prior to the youth athlete’s initiating practice or competition.
(b) Each local school system and sports or recreational organization governing body shall ensure that coaches receive annual training to learn how to recognize the symptoms of a concussion and how to seek proper medical treatment for a person suspected of having a concussion.
(c) Each local school system and sports or recreational organization shall establish by rule the requirements of the training which shall be provided by using designated resources to the extent practicable and timelines to ensure that, to the extent practicable, every coach receives the training before the beginning of practice for the school athletic team.
(d) A youth athlete who is suspected of sustaining a concussion or brain injury in practice or a game shall be immediately removed from participation and may not return to play the day of the injury and until he or she is evaluated by a licensed physician and receives written clearance to return to play from a licensed physician.

Legislative History

(Act 2011-541, p. 989, §2; Act 2012-314, p. 712, §1.)