Youth sports are a great way for children and teens to stay active and build confidence. However, safety is a top priority, especially when it comes to preventing and managing concussions.
Both New Jersey and Pennsylvania have enacted laws to ensure student-athletes are protected from the serious effects of head injuries.
New Jersey Concussion Safety Law
Effective date: December 7, 2010
Key Provisions
- Education and mandatory training: The New Jersey Department of Education must implement a head injury training program for school physicians, coaches, and athletic trainers. The program must be updated as necessary and include information on recognizing the of symptoms of head and neck injuries, concussions and injuries related to second-impact syndrome, and the appropriate recovery times.
- Informed consent: Each year, parents/guardians and student-athletes must receive a fact sheet about sports-related concussion and other head injuries and return a signed acknowledgment form to the school.
- Immediate removal from play: Any youth athlete suspected of having a concussion must be immediately removed from z game or practice.
- Medical clearance before returning: Athletes cannot return to play until evaluated by a physician or other licensed healthcare provider trained in concussion evaluation and management and given written medical clearance.
- Liability protection: School districts and private schools are protected from liability for the injury or death of a person due to the action or inaction of persons employed by or under contract with a youth sports team organization that operates on school grounds if the youth sports team organization provides the district or private school with (a) proof of insurance in an amount not less than $50,000 per person, per occurrence; and (b) a statement of compliance with the school district or private school's policies for management of concussions and other head injuries.
Update: New Jersey Department has adopted a model concussion policy that includes first-in-the-nation recommendations that concussed student-athletes be provided academic accommodations when returning to the classroom.
Pennsylvania Concussion Safety Law
Effective date: July 1, 2012
Key provisions
- Signed information sheet: Student-athletes and their parents/guardians must review and sign a concussion and traumatic brain injury information sheet each year before participating in sports.
- Coach training requirement: Coaches must complete a concussion management certification training course offered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Federation of State High School Associations, or another provider approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. A coach should not coach an athletic activity the training is completed.
- Optional informational meetings: Schools may hold meetings before each athletic season to educate students, parents, coaches, and healthcare providers about concussions and preseason baseline assessments.
- Removal from play if symptoms appear: Students showing signs of a concussion must be immediately removed from play by a coach, official, athletic trainer, physician or other designated professional.
- Medical clearance before returning: Students may return to play only after written clearance from an appropriate medical professional trained in concussion evaluation and management.
- Penalties for noncompliance coaches: Schools may penalize coaches who don’t comply with the requirements above.
- First violation –suspension from coaching any athletic activity for the remainder of the season
- Second violation – suspension from coaching any athletic activity for the remainder of the season and for the next season
- Third violation –permanent suspension from coaching any athletic activity