Since 2012, per Assembly Bill 25, all schools with sports programs have been required to immediately remove an athlete from an athletic activity for the remainder of the day if the athlete is suspected of sustaining a concussion or head injury, and prohibits the athlete from returning to the athletic activity until the athlete is evaluated by a licensed health care provider, trained in the management of concussions, and acting within the scope of his or her practice, and the athlete receives written clearance from the licensed health care provider to return to the athletic activity. This law also requires, on a yearly basis, a concussion and head injury information sheet to be signed and returned by the athlete and athlete's parent or guardian before the athlete's initiating practice or competition.

A new law went into effect on January 1, 2017. Assembly Bill 2007 now applies these same regulations to athletes participating in youth sports organizations as well. To assist the youth softball leagues and teams affiliated with USA Softball of Sacramento comply with AB2007, we have outlined the requirements in BOLD below and then added the suggested practice below.

1. Remove an athlete who may have a concussion during a practice or game to be removed from the activity for the remainder of the day.

   Suggested Practice: Instruct coaches and umpires to look for the signs of a concussion in any injured player. If suspected of sustaining a concussion, remove the athlete from the game and provide parent with the Notification Form. Advise the parents they need to return with a doctor’s note before they are eligible to play.

2. Any athlete removed for this reason must receive a written clearance note from a medical doctor trained in the management of concussion before returning to practice, and after completion of the Return to Learn and Return to Play Protocols.

   Suggested Practice: Designate a board member to oversee the concussion training and management of the Physician Letters and Return to Play Protocol.

3. Before an athlete can start the season and begin practice in a sport, a concussion information sheet must be signed and returned to the league by the parent/guardian.

   Suggested Practice: Use Team Sideline T&C to capture all parents signing up their players to agree to the Concussion Information Sheet (We will add it as a T&C for you). If you choose, you can also have every parent sign a physical form.

4. Provide all coaches and administrators with training on concussions, and document completion and understanding of this training.                                                       Suggested Practice: Show the video at a pre-season coaches meeting OR require every coach to turn in a copy of their online certification.

Complete Information Packet for USA Softball affiliated organizations

Video Training on Concussions

NFHS Learning Center - Concussion in Sports Training

Heads Up - Concussion Training

Fact Sheets About Concussions

Fact Sheet for Officials

Fact Sheet For Parents

Fact Sheet For Coaches