COLUMBUS, Ohio – The governing body for high school sports in Ohio has rewritten its concussion management regulations to bring them in line with a new state law.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association’s Board of Directors changed the policy on Thursday to conform to House Bill 143, which was co-sponsored by Columbus Democratic Rep. Mike Stinziano and signed into law by Gov. John Kasich in December.
The legislation governing concussion prevention, recognition and management takes effect April 26.
Among the changes the OHSAA board made is a requirement that no athlete “who exhibits symptoms of a concussion shall be permitted to return to play on the same day he/she was removed.”
Previously, an authorized medical professional could approve a student to return to play on the same day if it was deemed that no concussion was sustained, OHSAA spokesman Tim Stried said.