Act No. 314

• New concussion education requirements for professionals, who regularly interact with youth athletes, to help them recognize the signs and symptoms of a concussion.
• The removal of youth athletes from competition upon sustaining a concussion to protect young athletes from harm.
• Requirements that must be satisfied for a youth athlete to return to play after sustaining a concussion or head injury to ensure their health.
• The dissemination of concussion information to inform the public of concussion risks.

The legislative intent of the Louisiana Youth Concussion Act is clearly articulated in the act:

• Concussions are one of the most commonly reported injuries in children and adolescents who participate in sports and recreational activities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that as many as three million nine hundred thousand sports-related and recreation-related concussions occur in the United States each year. A concussion is caused by a blow or motion to the head or body that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the skull. The risk for long-term, chronic cognitive, physical, and emotional symptoms associated with the development of post-concussion syndrome and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, as well as the risk for catastrophic injuries or even death, is significant when a concussion or head injury is not properly recognized, evaluated, and managed.
• Continuing to play with a concussion or symptoms of head injury leaves the young athlete especially vulnerable to greater injury and even death. The Legislature of Louisiana recognizes that, despite having generally recognized return-to-play standards for concussions and head injury, some affected youth athletes are prematurely returned to play resulting in actual or potential physical injury or death to youth athletes in the state of Louisiana.
• The Legislature of Louisiana further recognizes that it is in the best interest of the state to create a uniform education, training, and return-to-play protocol to be followed throughout the state.

Click to download a full copy of the Louisiana Youth Concussion Act.

Concussion Education Requirements

A) The governing authority of each public and nonpublic elementary school, middle school, junior high school, and high school

1. Prior to beginning of each athletic season, provide pertinent information to all coaches, officials, volunteers, youth athletes, and their parents or legal guardian which informs of the nature and risk of concussion and head injury, including the risks associated with continuing to play after a concussion or head injury.

2. Require each coach, whether such coach is employed or a volunteer, and every official of a youth athletic activity that involves interscholastic play to complete an annual concussion recognition education course which is in accordance with the provisions of Subsection C of this Section.

3. Require as a condition of participation in any athletic activities that the youth athlete and the youth athlete’s parents or legal guardian sign a concussion and head injury information sheet which provides adequate notice of the statutory requirements which must be satisfied in order for an athlete who has or is suspected to have suffered a concussion or head injury to return to play.

B) Each private club or public recreation facility and each athletic league which sponsors youth athletic activities

1. Prior to beginning of each athletic season, provide pertinent information to all coaches, officials, volunteers, youth athletes, and their parents or legal guardian which informs of the nature and risk of concussion and head injury, including the risks associated with continuing to play after a concussion or head injury.

2. Require each volunteer coach for a youth athletic activity and each coach with whom the club, facility, or league directly contracts with, formally engages, or employs who coaches a youth athletic activity and each official to complete an annual concussion recognition course which is in accordance with the provisions of Subsection C of this Section.

3. Require as a condition of participation in any athletic activities that the youth athlete and the youth athlete’s parents or legal guardian sign a concussion and head injury information sheet which includes but is not limited to adequate notice of the statutory requirements which must be satisfied in order for an athlete who has or is suspected to have sustained a concussion or head injury to return to play.

Click to access CDC’s Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports for training and educational materials.
Click to download the statutory requirements of the Louisiana Youth Concussion in Sports Act 314.
Click to download the concussion and head injury information sheet that youth athletes and their parents/legal guardians are required to sign as a condition of participation in any athletic activities.

For additional information about concussions or other injury prevention topics, contact us.