Governor Nixon has signed the Interscholastic Youth Sports Brain Injury Prevention Act into law. The Act sets policy for the care of student atheletes who have sustained a suspected brain injury or concussion.
Associate Executive Director of the Missouri High School Athletic Association Harvey Richards says under the policy, such a student would be required to sit out of play for 24 hours and see an M.D. or D.O.
Richards says the Act focuses heavily on education for athletes, officials, coaching staffs, parents and school administrators. It does not create criminal penalties for not complying with the policy, though he acknowledges such a failure would likely lead to civil action.
Materials on the new policy are being circulated now to school districts across the state. It is up to school boards to deal with its implementation.
The law takes effect August 28th.