Senator Rob Hogg says :
"I wanted to give you the good news that we did pass SF153 out of Senate Education Committee today, and I hope it gets support to be passed by the full Senate and House."
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BY BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION - Iowa Chapter
February 28, 2010
NFL JOINS IA LAWMAKERS IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION ON CONCUSSION PREVENTION AND EDUCATION
Iowa athletes in youth sports from girls basketball to boys soccer or football could be affected by new legislation proposed to prevent early return to competition after a brain injury.
SF 153 and HF 385 will set new standards for student-athletes suspected of sustaining concussions and require parent/guardian and athlete education.
DES MOINES—This morning the National Football League joined with Iowa State Senator Tod Bowman (D-Maquoketa), the Brain Injury Association of Iowa, and the Iowa High School Athletic Association to support Senate File 153, new legislation to prevent and properly respond to sports-related concussions and other brain injuries in student-athletes across Iowa’s youth sports programs.
The State Capitol press conference featured NFL Executive Kenneth Edmonds who serves the league as Director of Government Relations & Public Policy, Retired Minnesota Viking linebacker and former ISU Cyclone Matt Blair, youth athletes, brain injury awareness advocates, as well as high school coach and bill sponsor, Senator Tod Bowman.
“We thank Senators Bowman and Ragan as well as Representatives Koester and Lofgren for their leadership on what we in the NFL consider important legislation on a crucial subject,” said Kenneth Edmonds of the NFL. “Today’s NFL players and coaches are better educated on the dangers of concussions and we believe youth athletes – both male and female – should be better educated and protected. SF 153 and HF 385 do just that.”
Senator Bowman, a high school coach himself, stated, “Increased awareness and diagnosis of concussions are changing sports – from the professional ranks to the youngest sports leagues. Nothing is more important than the health and safety of our student-athletes on and off the field. I’m pleased to have the support of the NFL for comprehensive legislation that ensures we are putting the health and well-being of our young people first with new, meaningful education and prevention standards for sports-related brain injuries.”
SF 153, and its companion bill HF 385, will require for youth in grades seven through twelve: 1) a student-athlete suspected of sustaining a concussion in a game be removed from competition until they have been seen by a licensed healthcare provider trained in the evaluation and management of concussions and other brain injuries; 2) that student-athlete obtain written clearance from a trained and licensed healthcare provider before returning to play and 3) a parent/guardian and student athlete must read, sign and return a concussion awareness fact sheet prior to enrolling a child in youth sports activities.
“Iowa is proud to have a long and storied tradition of sports excellence, especially in youth sports,” said Senator Bowman. “But it’s critical we adopt better and clearer guidelines for protecting our student-athletes from sports-related brain trauma and ensure our parents, coaches, officials, athletic trainers, and other health care providers are all on the same page.”
In addition to support from the NFL, the Brain Injury Association of Iowa and the Iowa High School Athletic Association is in support of the legislation.
Individuals participating in the press conference included:
- Matt Blair, a former NFL linebacker who played for the Minnesota Vikings for all twelve seasons of his career from 1974 – 1985, starring in two Super Bowls (1974 and 1976) and who is also a former Iowa State University Cyclone Defense Star / ISU Hall of Fame - Class of 1999
- Kenneth Edmonds, Director of Government Relations & Public Policy for the National Football League
- Geoffrey M. Lauer, Executive Director of the Brain Injury Association of Iowa
- Alan Beste, Assistant Executive Director with the Iowa High School Athletic Association
- Tate Jensen, 9th grade student athlete at Adel Desoto Minburn (ADM) High School, Adel Iowa
- Brianna McAninch, Junior student athlete at Norwalk High School, Norwalk, Iowa
- Donald D. Vaughan, Board Member with the Brain Injury Association of Iowa and father of a son with traumatic brain injury
- Senator Tod Bowman (D-Maquoketa), sponsor of Senate File 153 – “An act to protect student athletes from concussions and other brain injuries”
“The Brain Injury Association of Iowa is pleased to help coordinate this effort at increasing both prevention and awareness of brain injury among Iowa’s youth”, shared Geoffrey Lauer, BIA-Iowa Executive Director “Brain injury is the last thing on your mind until it is the only thing”, Lauer noted. The Brain Injury Association of Iowa is the voice of help, hope and healing for the more than 95,000 Iowans with long-term disability from brain injury.
In May of last year, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell wrote to 44 Governors encouraging action be taken similar to Washington State’s Lystedt's Law, to protect young athletes from concussions. Zackery Lystedt was a young Washington athlete who in 2006 returned to a middle school football game after suffering a concussion and subsequently suffered a brain injury.
Concussions are caused by a blow or motion to the head or body that disrupts the normal functioning of the brain and can cause significant and sustained neuropsychological impairments. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3.8 million sports and recreation-related concussions occur every year.
For more information about concussion or brain injury contact the Brain Injury Association of Iowa at 800-444-6443 or via www.biaia.org
For More Information:
Geoffrey Lauer
Brain Injury Assoc. National Football League
319.466.7455
319.621.7078 (cell)
glauer@biaia.org
Dan Masonson
212-450-2081
dan.masonson@nfl.com###
Comments