Ohio’s new concussion law
at a glance
Highlights of Ohio’s return-to-play law for youth and school-based sports:
■ Effective April 26.
■ Applies to interscholastic sports and all youth sports organizations.
■ Requires coaches, referees and officials to complete a free online training program in recognizing concussion symptoms every three years.
■ Requires a coach or referee to remove athletes from competition or practice if they show concussion symptoms.
■ Bans athletes from returning to play the same day they are removed.
■ Prohibits athletes from returning to practice or competition until cleared by a doctor or other licensed health-care provider in writing.
■ Requires programs to provide parents a concussion information sheet from the Ohio Department of Health. (For school-based programs, parents must sign a form indicating they received the information.)
Resources:
■ www.healthyohioprogram.org/concussion — The state health department’s website provides links to approved concussion training, required information sheets and a list of frequently asked questions about the new law.
■ www.ohsaa.org — The Ohio High School Athletic Association’s website provides a summary of how the new law applies to interscholastic sports and links to needed forms and online training.