* Important Please Read * Information You Need to Know *
Parents, Coaches, & Referees,

Visit the Ohio Department of Health Website to learn about Ohio's Return-to-Play Law that goes into effect on April 26th 2013
http://www.healthyohioprogram.org/concussion

Concussion Information Sheet
Per ORC 3707.52 as enacted by Ohio HB 143 of the 129th General Assembly, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) is required to create a concussion and head injury information sheet for participants in interscholastic activities and youth sports. The link to the Student Athlete Concussion Information Sheet can be found on the Ohio Department of Health Website.

Ohio's Return-to-Play Law: What Coaches & Referees Need to Know - Youth Sports Organizations (Non-School Sports)
Starting April 26th, 2013, individuals are not allowed to serve as a coach or referee for a youth sports organization, whether volunteer or paid, without:
1) successfully completing, every three years, an online training program in recognizing the signs and symptoms of concussions and head injuries provided by the Ohio Department of Health
-OR-
2) holding a Pupil Activity Permit (PAP) from the Ohio Department of Education.

Online Concussion Management Training
Per ORC 3707.52 as enacted by Ohio HB 143 of the 129th General Assembly, ODH is required to post free training programs that train coaches and referees in recognizing the signs and symptoms of concussions and head injuries.
The following free online trainings have been approved by the Ohio Department of Health for coaches and referees:

National Federation of State High School Associations Concussion in Sports - What you Need to Know: http://www.nfhslearn.com/electiveDetail ... seID=38000
(This free on-line course is available through the NFHS. You will need to click the “order here” button and complete a brief registration form to take the course.)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Heads Up Concussion in Youth Sports On-Line Training Program: http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/HeadsUp/o ... ining.html

PLEASE NOTE: Both courses offer a “certificate of completion” upon successful passage. The NFHS course allows organizations to search for and track coaches who have completed the course while the CDC course does not.

Removal From and Return to Play
1) Starting April 26th, 2013, coaches, referees, or officials must remove an athlete exhibiting the signs and symptoms of a concussion during practice or a game. These include:

2) The athlete cannot return to play on the same day that he or she is removed.

3) The athlete is not permitted to return to play until they have been assessed and receive written clearance by a physician (MD or DO) or by any other licensed health care provider approved by the youth sports organization. It is important to review your organization’s policy regarding which health care providers are authorized to clear an athlete to return-to-play.

Chris Kendel, HOP