Lawmakers Reintroduce Legislation to Protect Student Athletes from Concussions
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Democratic lawmakers today reintroduced legislation to set minimum safety standards for concussion management in public schools across the country. The legislation, Protecting Student Athletes from Concussions Act, is modeled after state action in Washington, Oregon, and other states that have passed laws to help reduce the risk of concussions in youth sports. It would, for the first time, make sports safer for student athletes by asking school districts to implement a concussion safety and management plan. The National Football League (NFL) has endorsed the legislation and is working on similar protocols for their players.
“If the NFL can make concussion management a priority, so can school districts. Injuries are part of the game when it comes to school sports for student athletes, but unlike a broken leg or a sprain, concussions are often ignored or undiagnosed,” said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the ranking Democrat on the Education and The Workforce Committee, original co-sponsor of the legislation. “With the tools to properly manage concussions and implement safety precautions, parents, coaches and students can change the culture of school sports for the better and keep our students safe on the field and thriving in the classroom. This legislation will ensure that pressure to play won’t supersede students’ health.”
“Concussions are an unfortunate reality of competitive sports from the sandlot to the Super Bowl,” said U.S. Rep. Tim Bishop (D-NY), original sponsor of the bill. “This legislation will raise awareness of this very prevalent injury among high-schoolers, help teachers identify the subtle warning signs of concussion in classroom performance, and provide guidance for parents and coaches on when it is safe for a concussed student athlete to return to the playing fields.”
The plan that school districts develop as part of the legislation must educate students, parents and school personnel about concussion safety and how to support students recovering from concussions.
The legislation would also require schools to post information about concussions on school grounds and on school websites. It would also support “when in doubt, sit it out” policies for students suspected of sustaining a concussion during a school-sponsored athletic activity.
Concussions cause a spectrum of symptoms, commonly including altered mental status, physical symptoms, cognitive problems and difficulty sleeping. The number, type and duration of symptoms vary widely for each person. In comparison to older athletes, symptoms are intensified and recovery is prolonged for youth.
Without proper identification, multiple concussions can lead to chronic diseases.
Leading organizations support the legislation:
Roger Goodell, Commissioner of the NFL: “The Protecting Student Athletes from Concussion Act represents a strong step forward in our shared goal of protecting young male and female athletes in all sports from the risks of concussion and other brain injuries. The NFL is pleased to support Congressman Miller’s important legislation.”
American College of Sports Medicine: “The American College of Sports Medicine supports the Protecting Student Athletes from Concussion Act of 2011. This bill provides for best practices such as educating students, parents and school personnel about concussion; removal from play or practice of any youngster suspected of having suffered a concussion, and return to play only after medical clearance. Moreover, it addresses the need for a recovery plan to help the student-athlete safely and effectively return to academic work following a concussion.”
Dr. Gerald Gioia, Chief, Division Of Pediatric Neuropsychology at the Children's National Medical Center: “Protecting Student Athletes from Concussions Act is a critically important bill in addressing two essential aspects of the youth concussion management issue at the national level, affording standardized protection of the athlete and critical support of the academic needs of the student.”
Next Article