Below is the latest info on the Bill in the Ohio House on Concussions.

Updated Concussion Regulations in Response to Ohio House Bill 143 and Updated Preparticipation Physical Evaluation for 2013-14

DATE:  February 15, 2013

Thank you for all that you do and have been doing to provide education to your coaching staff, parents and students regarding the prevention, recognition and management of concussions and head injuries.  For the last two years, the OHSAA has been at the forefront of the rules writing and education process to respond to this critical health issue that can have a devastating impact on our student-athletes.  We will continue that mission to protect our students and all those who work in the interscholastic athletics arena.

Notwithstanding the leading role that the Ohio High School Athletic Association has played in the area of developing policies concerning concussion prevention, recognition and management, in December of 2012, Ohio’s Governor Kasich signed into law legislation that was passed by Ohio’s 129th General Assembly which incorporated much of what the OHSAA regulations previously mandated.  This law, however, does add several aspects to previous OHSAA regulations.  Therefore, in order to be fully compliant with this law as signed by our Governor, modifications have been made to OHSAA policy.  These modifications are set forth in these updated Concussion Regulations which were approved by the Board of Directors on February 14, 2013. 

Please click here: http://www.ohsaa.org/medicine/Concussions/ConcussionRegulations.pdf to read these regulations which will also be published in the 2013-14 OHSAA Handbook.

Important Changes From Previous Regulations Include:

1.                A mandate that all coaches have a current Pupil Activity Program/Coaching Permit and upon renewal complete a Concussion course authorized by the NFHS or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC).  This course must be retaken each time the PAP is renewed.  Please see the regulations for the specific details.

2.                A change in the Return to Play (RTP) Protocol prohibiting any student who has been removed from a practice or a competition by a coach or a contest official to return to that practice or competition on that same day.  RTP will be permitted thereafter (meaning no earlier than the next day) only with written authorization by a physician, either an M.D. or D.O.  If a Board of Education or other governing board wishes to authorize another licensed health care provider such as an athletic trainer, to perform this authorization, the provider must be acting in consultation with a physician (M.D. or D.O), pursuant to a referral from a physician, in collaboration with a physician, or under the supervision of a physician.  A form for your use has been revised and will be posted on the website and shared with all coaches and officials when it becomes operational on April 26, 2013.

3.               A mandate that all contest officials that your school may contract to officiate your contests have either a Pupil Activity Program/Coaching Permit (PAP) or show evidence of completion of either the NFHS or CDC concussion course.  When an individual takes a concussion course, the individual can print a certificate of completion. We are recommending that all officials carry this information with them while officiating as of April 26, 2013 during this upcoming spring sports season. After this school year, it is the intention of the OHSAA to require the official, upon renewal of the officiating permit or new registration of an OHSAA official, to verify that he or she possesses this educational component.   We also recommend that your site manager check for this component at all contests this spring beginning April 26, 2013.

4.               All parents and students must review and sign the Ohio Department of Health’s “Concussion Information Sheet.”  As we know you are aware, concussion education is part of the mandatory curriculum (Bylaw 3-4-1) for preseason meetings.  We recommend that each school present this “Concussion Information Sheet” to parents and students at the spring preseason meetings and at all meetings thereafter.  In addition, we strongly encourage all parents and students to take one or both of the concussion courses.  The OHSAA Preseason Meeting DVD, also touches on concussion education, and the new sports regulations provide you additional resources on this topic. Please remind parents to make a copy of this information sheet.

5.               The OHSAA has now updated its Preparticipation Physical Evaluation Form for 2013-14.  There have been no substantive changes to pages 1-5, but the page six consent form has been revised to reflect this new concussion law.  Also, imbedded as a link on our Sports Medicine Page will be the Department of Health’s Concussion Information Sheet so that you can download both sets of forms from the same location.