March 10, 2010

Young athletes who suffer concussions would be held out of sports games or practice under a bill that has passed the General Assembly and is on the way to the governor.

Doctors would need to give any injured athletes the OK before they returned to the playing field. Also under this new legislation, school divisions have to provide student athletes with information about head injuries with a signature from a parent.

The athletic director at Monticello High School said they've always done what it takes to make sure their athletes are safe. From a budget standpoint, he said they've had the funds to be able to.

"One of the things we have is a team doctor that's here, so we've been fortunate to have a team doctor for 12 years," athletic director Fitzgerald Barnes said. "That team doctor is on the field during those contests, so they're seen right away by the team physician."

If approved by McDonnell, the law would take effect July 1, 2011.