Delaware expands concussion law to athletes outside of schools

Delaware kids who participate in recreation, club and youth sports organizations will now be subject to the same concussion guidelines as those participating in school-sponsored athletics.

Gov. Jack Markell signed the bill on Tuesday, expanding on a law that’s been in place since 2011 regulating concussion protocols for student-athletes in public schools. The changes mean that athletes who participate in programs not already regulated by the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association (DIAA) — which includes private schools — will now face similar procedures for concussion education and treatment.

From The News Journal:

Safety precautions laid out in the bill include provisions that students and parents must annually sign and return a concussion information sheet and coaches must remove an athlete from play even if he or she is only suspected of having a concussion. Athletes who have been removed from play must have clearance by a health care provider to return.

The new regulations will be implemented next September and will affect traditional “impact” sports such as football, rugby, soccer, basketball, lacrosse, field hockey, ice hockey, wrestling and volleyball as well as martial arts, combat sports, gymnastics, baseball, softball and cheerleading.

Tommie Neubauer, executive director of the DIAA, said the law has created a healthier and safer environment for public school athletes throughout the state, the newspaper reported.

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