A concussion is a brain injury, caused by a blow, bump or jolt to the head that can have serious consequences. It can occur in any sport or recreational activity.

Michigan was the 39th U.S. state to enact a law that regulates sports concussions and return to athletic activity.  The law went into full effect on June 30th, 2013, and was amended in October of 2017.

The sports concussion legislation requires all coaches, employees, volunteers, and other adults involved with a youth athletic activity to complete a concussion awareness on-line training program, which must be re-taken every three years, or more frequently as determined by DHHS.

The organizing entity must provide educational materials on the signs/symptoms and consequences of concussions to each youth athlete and their parents/guardians and obtain a signed statement acknowledging receipt of the information for the organizing entity to keep on record. 

The law also requires immediate removal of an athlete from physical participation in an athletic activity who is suspected of sustaining a concussion. The student athlete must then receive written clearance from an appropriate health professional before he or she can return to physical activity.

Michigan’s Sports Concussion Law: Compliance Checklist Effective June 30th, 2013

  • Learn about the new law and how it affects you and your organization. Please visit michigan.gov.
  • Plan how this new law will be implemented in your organization before it sponsors or operates an athletic activity in which youth athletes will participate. Understand what is required and make sure those provisions are implemented.
  • Ensure that required training is completed. Coaches, employees, volunteers, and other adults who are involved with a youth athletic activity sponsored by or operated under the auspices of the organizing entity must complete a concussion awareness on-line training program.
  • Provide educational materials to youth athletes and parents. The organizing entity is responsible for providing educational materials to each youth athlete who participates in a sponsored athletic activity and their parents/guardians.
  • Document and maintain receipt of educational materials by youth athletes and parents. The organizing entity should obtain a signed statement by each youth athlete and parent/guardian that acknowledges receipt of educational materials on concussions and their consequences. Signed statements should be maintained in a permanent file for the duration of the youth athlete's participation in the athletic activity or until the youth athlete is 18 years of age.
  • Immediately remove from play any youth athlete suspected of sustaining a concussion. The coach or other adult employed by, volunteering for or acting on behalf of the organizing entity during an athletic event sponsored or operated by that entity shall immediately remove an athlete from physical participation who is suspected of sustaining a concussion during the athletic activity. An athletic activity means a program or event, including practice and competition, during which youth athletes participate or practice to participate in an organized athletic game or competition against another team, club, entity or individual. Athletic activity includes participation in physical education classes that are part of a school curriculum.
  • Before returning a youth athlete to play, obtain written clearance from an appropriate health professional. The youth athlete suspected of sustaining a concussion is not allowed to return to any physical activity until they have been evaluated by an appropriate health professional and must receive written clearance from an appropriate health professional authorizing return to physical activity. The organizing entity shall maintain the Written Clearance to Return to Play Forms in a permanent file for the duration of the participation of the youth athlete in a physical activity or until the youth athlete is over 18 years of age.
  • Keep information and resources about the law on hand. Information about the law and resources are available at: michigan.gov.
Return to Table of Contents
Back
Done