Increased public awareness of the risks, symptoms and care of concussions has resulted in significant changes that affect youth sports. Ohio HB 143 of the 129th General Assembly, the "Return-to-Play Law" went into effect April 26, 2013.

The law sets requirements for youth athletic organizations and schools in treating young athletes showing concussion symptoms, removing them from activity and when they can return to play.  All coaches and referees are required to take an online certification course on concussions in sports.  Parents and guardians are to be provided an information sheet created by the Ohio Department of Health (posted below).  For our athletes, a child showing concussion symptoms must be removed from a practice or game and must be cleared by a medical professional before returning to play.

Coaches

All head and assistant coaches must take one of the free online training courses listed below and submit a paper or electronic copy of the certification to OYAA.  We ask our coaches to take the NFHS course but will accept the CDC certification. Certificates are good for three years from the date of completion. EMAIL THE CERTIFICATE TO tjones@oyaa.org. 

National Federation of State High School Associations - Concussion in Sports (Click here for NFHS) 
This free on-line course is available through the NFHS. You will need to click the “order course” button and complete a brief registration form to take the course. Follow these steps to complete the course:

1. Sign in or Register a new account.
2. When your registration is complete you may "order" the free concussion course offered along the left-hand side of the page.  Continue following prompts.  Although it may look like you'll be charged for the course, there is no cost.
3. Once you've completed "checkout," you'll be able to take the free online course.
4. When you've completed and passed the course, you have the option of printing/saving a certificate of completion. We will not accept screen prints or photographs of the certificate. Download your certificate so you can email or print it when requested.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Heads Up Concussion in Youth Sports On-Line Training Program (Click here for CDC)

Parents

As required by the State of Ohio, the following information regarding concussions is provided for parents and guardians of participants in OYAA programs:

Concussion Information Sheet for Youth Sports Organizations - Starting April 26th, 2013, Ohio law (ORC 3707.511) requires a youth sports organization to provide this sheet to the parent or other guardian of an individual who wishes to practice for or compete in an athletic activity organized by the organization.

Ohio's Return to Play Law: What a Parent/Guardian Needs to Know - a one page summary of the law.

Other pertinent resources will be provided on this site as they are made available.  See the Ohio Department of Health's Youth Concussions webpage or the Nationwide Children's Parent's Guide to Concussions webpage for further information.

Ohio Legislative Service Commission - Final Analysis of H.B. 143