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Illinois gov’t adopts IHSA concussion standards

Gov. Pat Quinn last Thursday signed legislation that will help protect Illinois student-athletes from concussions and other brain injuries.

The new law ensures that athletes who receive a concussion will not be allowed to return to play or practice until they are evaluated and receive written clearance from a licensed health professional.

Additionally, the law ensures that student-athletes, parents and coaches are able to recognize the signs of a concussion.

House Bill 200, sponsored by Illinois House Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) and Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago), requires each school board in Illinois to adopt a concussion policy that complies with Illinois High School Association (IHSA) guidelines.

Those guidelines were set forth by the IHSA in an April decision.

The IHSA policy reads: "In cases when an athlete is not cleared to return to play the same day as he/she is removed from a contest following a possible head injury (i.e., concussion), the athlete shall not return to play or practice until the athlete is evaluated by and receives written clearance from a licensed health care provider to return to play.

"For the purposes of this policy, licensed health care providers consist of physicians licensed to practice medicine in all its branches in Illinois and certified athletic trainers working in conjunction with physicians licensed to practice medicine in all its branches in Illinois."

Marty Hickman, the IHSA Executive Director, said the organization was glad to see the new law be put in place.

"The IHSA is very pleased in Governor Quinn’s decision to sign House Bill 200 into law," Hickman said. "This is a law that puts student safety first and now creates a synergy between all levels of our schools that will better educate students on concussions."

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