On December 20, 2012, the Governor of Ohio signed into law a comprehensive bill that requires all coaches and referees of youth sports programs to receive training in recognizing head trauma, including concussion injuries. The law further requires that any player who exhibits the symptoms of head injury must be removed from play, and cannot return until evaluated by a qualified medical professional.

The new law, known as HB 143, went into effect on April 26, 2013, and provides for on-line training courses to be made available by the Ohio Department of Health which must be taken by all coaches and referees. A certificate indicating successful achievement of the objectives of the course is issued immediately for printing and use by the participant in demonstrating completion of the training requirement. Once the certificate is obtained it will be valid for three (3) years.

There are three free on-line courses that qualify the individual for certification under the law. All can be accessed from the Ohio Department of Health web site. Click on the Youth Concussion Law logo, then the Coaches link, then the Online Concussion Management Training link to access one of three available free courses.

All Community Soccer Club board members, coaches, and referees are subject to this law and must be in compliance by the start of each season. Parents receive a pamphlet outlining the requirements of the law. A copy can be downloaded here.