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?Heads Up' to the vote on concussions in Fall River

Herald News - 6/16/2018

Taking the title "Heads Up" from the concussion imitative developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Fall River School Committee made a recent vote that will help with the health and safety of local youth league athletes. With a vote of 6-0, the School Committee approved a new requirement for the use of public school athletic fields and facilities in the city. Youth leagues will need to demonstrate they provide some form of education concerning athletic concussion awareness to all parties (players, coaches, parents) involved with their athletic league or team.

A few years back the state passed a law that requires athletic concussion awareness to all involved with public school athletic teams. With this recent committee vote, the gap in the state law has been addressed. The law could not regulate youth leagues, because they operate independently. However, many youth leagues use public school and park department facilities to operate their programs.

Local youth leagues should not be challenged by this new requirement to access athletic facilities with the Fall River public school department. Many free resources are available online, including the CDC, MIAA and Sports Concussion Legacy Foundation.

Hopefully other local school districts notice this action and follow up with the same school policy recommendation. Also, since youth leagues use athletic facilities from park departments, those public boards will need to modify the application process.

"Heads Up" to the Fall River School Committee and school leaders (the superintendent and athletic director, especially) for this vote. Great to see that the Fall River public school system is taking the lead on this public health issue.

Edward Hill

Swansea