New protocols for athletic coaches and referees regarding concussions is likely headed for final passage in the Kentucky legislature. The Senate Education Committee gave unanimous support to the House bill Tuesday.
Chad Collins, legal counsel for the Kentucky High School Athletics Association, says it’s not likely to reduce the number of concussions sustained by young athletes, but the measure should help prevent further damage. “What it’s going to do is protect student athletes from that secondary impact, which has been found to be the most critical issue in the risks associated with continued involvement in any type of play after that initial concussion,” said Collins.
Collins says he’s not aware of any deaths in Kentucky associated with concussion related injuries, but he adds there have been several across the country.
He says this legislation could have an impact for athletes in many different sports. “It’s an ever evolving issue that we are trying to monitor and trying to ensure that the safety provisions that we can implement for these rules are protecting all the participants, and that regardless of whether it’s in soccer, whether it’s in football, basketball, or any other sport,” Collins said.
If given final legislative approval and signed by the governor, the concussion bill would go into effect in mid-July, just before the start of high school football and soccer practice.
