On June 20, 2010, Texas governor Rick Perry signed into law H.B. No. 203, the state's youth sports concussion safety law. Dubbed Natasha's Law after Natasha Helmick, a moving force behind the law, the Texas statute is one of the most detailed and comprehensive of the twenty-six enacted to protect youth athletes since the Zackery Lystedt Law was signed by Washington Governor Christine Gregoire in May 2009.
This law applies to “youth sports organizations” which includes any organization, business, non-profit entity or local government agency that sponsors or conducts amateur sports competitions, training camps, or clubs in which persons seventeen (17) years of age or younger participate (such as Little League Baseball, PONY, USSSA among others).
An athlete who has sustained a concussion shall complete a graduated return to play protocol of not less than seven (7) days in duration under the supervision of a licensed health care provider. If an athlete seventeen (17) years of age or younger has been removed from athletic activity due to a suspected concussion, the youth sports organization shall notify a parent or a guardian of that athlete of the time and date of the injury, the symptoms observed and any treatment provided to that athlete for the injury.
On an annual basis, a youth sports organization shall provide a concussion and head injury information sheet to each athlete. The information sheet shall be signed and returned by the athlete and, if the athlete is seventeen (17) years of age or younger, shall also be signed by the athlete’s parent or guardian before the athlete initiates practice or competition.
ALL players and parents are required to read, discuss, and sign an acknowledgement form and return a signature card/form to their coach.
Parent:
Please read the attached “CDC Heads Up - A Fact Sheet for Parents.” After reading these fact sheets, please sign below and submit this consent form.
We look forward to another great year! -Caddo Mills Youth Sports Association