ALBANY – New York State is now requiring football teams and coaches to make parents more aware of concussion risks when deciding whether to take up sport.
Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation Tuesday requiring tackle football programs to provide the parents or guardians with informational packets regarding concussions and sub-concussive blows, and the injuries that may result from receiving such blows.
“The medical research on the long-term effects of concussions and sub-concussive hits continues to evolve and it is essential that we provide the parents of young athletes with the latest up-to-date information,” Governor Cuomo said. “Parents should have the facts when it comes to the wellbeing of their children and access to this information will help with decision-making and encourage best practices on the field.”
The programs affected by this new law include any practice, game or other activity in which children participate in tackle football and which is organized by a school, league, or other adult-run organization.
The required informational packets on concussions and sub-concussive blows must be available free of charge on the organization’s website.
Section VI Athletics, the governing body for local high school sports in Western New York, has had concussion meetings for players and parents at the scholastic levels for the past several years.
Links on the group’s website explain what a concussion is and how to manage the injury.
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