This map identifies and displays key features of laws that seek to prevent traumatic brain injuries (more commonly known as concussions) in youth sports. The map includes laws from 50 states and the District of Columbia in effect from January 2009 to July 2017.

Each year as many as 300,000 young people suffer traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) from playing sports. TBIs can have serious short and long term health effects. Most states have adopted laws aimed at reducing harm from youth sports TBIs, and this portal is designed to identify and display key features of such laws.

States have responded to the problem of brain injuries in youth sports by adopting laws that establish one or more of five requirements aimed at secondary prevention — that is, minimizing harm to youths who have already suffered some sort of sports-related head trauma. The provisions are addressed in the map and include:

  1. When and how a youth athlete with a suspected TBI to be removed from play.
  2. Parental notification of an incident that could cause a TBI.
  3. When and how an athlete may return to play with a suspected or diagnosed TBI.
  4. When and how an athlete may return to the classroom after a TBI.
  5. Whether or not an information sheet on TBI must be distributed, and to whom distribution of an information sheet about TBIs
  6. Liability

The dataset was originally created by Hosea Harvey, JD, PhD. It is now maintained by the Center for Public Health Law Research.