As we discussed at our January meeting, the Ohio legislature was cooking up a new law that would require ALL coaches of youth sports to comply with. House Bill 143.
http://www.healthyohioprogram.org/concussion
**Ohio’s return-to-play law goes into effect on April 26th, 2013**
Coaches/Referees – Youth Sports Organizations – Updated 2.6.13
Ohio's Return-to-Play Law: What Coaches & Referees Need to Know – Youth Sports Organizations
(Non-school sports)
Training In Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of a Concussion
Starting April 26th, 2013, individuals are not allowed to serve as a coach or referee for a youth sports organization, whether volunteer or paid, without:
1) successfully completing, every three years, an online training program in recognizing the signs and symptoms of concussions and head injuries provided by the Ohio Department of Health
-OR-
2) holding a Pupil Activity Permit (PAP) from the Ohio Department of Education.
For those who current hold a Pupil Activity Permit: Starting April 26th, 2013, in order to renew their permit (every three years), coaches with a current PAP will be required to present evidence that they have successfully completed:
1) a training program in recognizing the symptoms of concussions and head injuries that is linked on the Department of Health's web site (www.healthyohioprogram.org/concussion)
-OR-
2) a training program authorized and required by an organization that regulates interscholastic conferences or events.
Online Training
The Ohio Department of Health has approved the following free online trainings for coaches and referees:
National Federation of State High School Associations Concussion in Sports
For those interested you can visit www.nfhslearn.com for the free concusion training as well as a free course on heat acclimatization and heat illness prevention.
