WUFT News News and Public Media for North Central Florida from the University of Florida in Gainesville
Florida lawmakers are moving closer to action protecting student athletes who have suffered head injury. The House has unanimously passed a bill requiring coaches and staff to pull athletes from play after a head injury. Florida High School Athletic Association Spokesman Corey Sobers says this is nothing new to FHSAA affiliated schools.
[audio:http://www.wuft.org/news/files/2012/02/SOBERS2.mp3]He says students at affiliated schools are already required to have a physical and sign consent to even practice on any athletic field. They also require coaches to train every year on concussion symptoms. But not all schools are affiliated with the FHSAA, so he says these guidelines may be important for filling in that gap.
[audio:http://www.wuft.org/news/files/2012/02/SOBERS3.mp3]Sobers says because this is a very big issue with potentially big long term consequences, coaches need to be incredibly cautious with any head injury.
