PA Senate Bill 200

Today I became aware of a recently passed Pennsylvania Senate Bill that will affect all high school athletic departments across the state. This is more commonly referred to as the Safety in Youth Sports Act, and deals with the managing of concussions and brain injuries. 

In a nutshell, the bill states that any athlete who is determined to exhibit symptoms or signs of a concussion or brain injury by an official, coach from their team, trainer, licensed physician, licensed physical therapist, or other school official must be removed from participation at the time of shown symptoms. The athlete cannot return to play until he/she has seen either a licensed physician or licensed neurologist (unlike in the link I gave, the official, passed bill has scratched that an athletic trainer can clear a player) and be cleared to play in writing. 

Every school year, any coach, volunteer, or other member of the athletic staff must be trained by the free, online website by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in concussion management. 

Any coach found in violation of this will have the following penalties:

1. first offense results in suspension from coaching for the remainder of the season

2. second offense results in suspension from coaching for the remainder of the current season and the following season

3. third offense results in permanent suspension from coaching any athletic activity

This will beocme in effect on July 1, 2011.