Youth athletics: youth sports organizations: concussions or other head injuries.

Existing law requires a school district, charter school, or private school, if it offers an athletic program, to immediately remove an athlete from an athletic activity for the remainder of the day if the athlete is suspected of sustaining a concussion or head injury, and prohibits the athlete from returning to the athletic activity until the athlete is evaluated by a licensed health care provider, trained in the management of concussions, and acting within the scope of his or her practice, and the athlete receives written clearance from the licensed health care provider to return to the athletic activity. Existing law also requires, on a yearly basis, a concussion and head injury information sheet to be signed and returned by the athlete and athlete's parent or guardian before the athlete's initiating practice or competition. This bill would apply these provisions to athletes participating in youth sports organizations, as defined to include organizations, businesses, nonprofit entities, or local governmental agencies that sponsor or conduct amateur sports competitions, training, camps, or clubs in which persons 17 years of age or younger participate in any of 27 designated sports. The bill would require youth sports organizations to notify the parents or guardians of athletes 17 years of age or younger who have been removed from athletic activities due to suspected concussions, as specified. The bill would require youth sports organizations to offer concussion and head injury education, or related educational materials, or both, to each of their coaches and administrators on a yearly basis, as prescribed. The bill would require each of these coaches and administrators to successfully complete the concussion and head injury education offered under the bill at least once either online or in person. The bill would also require a youth sports organization to identify procedures for ensuring compliance with the bill's requirements for providing concussion and head injury education and a concussion and head injury information sheet. The bill would additionally require the youth sports organization to identify procedures to ensure compliance with the athlete removal provisions and the return-to-play protocol, as specified. The bill would specify that it applies to all persons participating in the activities of a youth sports organization, irrespective of their ages.