In 2012, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed the Safety in Youth Sports Act to help prevent the growing number of youth concussions and severe brain injuries among student athletes.
Because coaches are oftentimes the first line of defense in recognizing youth concussion symptoms, the law offers concussion safety tips and guidelines for managing these injuries. It also sets clear treatment standards that student athletes must follow before returning to play.
To learn more about concussion treatment or make an appointment with a UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program expert:
The Safety in Youth Sports Act — combined with the efforts of players, parents, coaches, and health professionals — looks to prevent serious head injuries and raise awareness of how to deal with youth concussions.
The law requires that coaches promptly remove any student athlete suspected of a concussion from the game.
The athlete cannot return to play until cleared in writing by a health professional trained in diagnosing and managing concussions.
For those who do not follow these safety standards outlined in the youth concussion act, the law sets the following penalties:
Concussion and traumatic brain injury education is another aspect of the law.
It urges schools to hold informational meetings prior to the start of each athletic season, to discuss:
Visit the UPMC HealthBeat blog where Nathan Kegel, PhD, a clinical neuropsychologist at the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program, discusses the specifics of the act:
Visit the Pennsylvania General Assembly website to read the act itself::
Your health information, right at your fingertips. Select MyUPMC to access your UPMC health information. For patients of UPMC-affiliated doctors in Central Pa, select UPMC Central Pa Portal. Patients of UPMC Cole should select the UPMC Cole Connect Patient Portal.
The portal for all UPMC patients EXCEPT those in Central Pa.
The portal for UPMC patients in Central Pa.
The portal for UPMC Cole patients receiving inpatient care.
