ANDERSON – With the increased awareness of the lasting impact of concussions, state Sen. Tim Lanane has renewed his effort to extend protections to more student athletes in Indiana.
Lanane, D-Anderson, is the author of legislation that would extend concussion protocols to all sports in Indiana and from the fifth to the 12th grades.
Indiana law currently only covers student athletes competing in football from the eighth to the 12th grades.
“I want to extend the protections to all sports,” Lanane said Wednesday. “In a young child their brains are still developing and a concussion can impact that development.”
Lanane said his proposed legislation, if approved, would extend concussion protocol protections to an additional 344,000 Indiana children participating in sports.
The legislation has been approved by a Senate committee.
“I feel good about getting it passed in the Senate,” Lanane said. “Last year it was passed by the Senate and didn’t get a hearing in the House Education Committee.”
He said there is more awareness of concussion injuries and the recently released “Concussion” movie has added some momentum to the effort.
Lanane said Mike Duerson, whose brother Dave played for the Chicago Bears and later took his own life, suffered from the lingering effects of concussions while playing professional and college football.
“I want to extend it down to the lower grades,” he said. “It’s crucial that we raise concussion awareness by all the coaches.”
Lanane said the protocols require detection of concussion injuries and to require a medical clearance to return to participate.
“Right now the law only covers football,” he said. “Concussions can take place in all sports.”
Lanane said studies have found that once athletes suffer a concussion they are more prone to another injury.
Most research on concussion management applies to people who are high school aged or older, the American Family Physician website states. "Little is known about concussions in children; therefore, conservative management is appropriate (e.g., a longer asymptomatic period before return to play)."
The Indiana High School Athletic Association voiced opposition to the legislation in 2015, but was silent during the Senate committee hearing this month.
“The IHSAA bylaws already contain language that requires every high school coach must complete the NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations) Concussion course and one additional approved course,” Bobby Cox, IHSAA commissioner, wrote in an email. “I believe the curriculum already provided by the NFHS and required by the IHSAA meets the provisions of Senate Bill 234. Since the IHSAA only governs student athletes and coaches in our 408 member schools, I cannot speak to students and coaches in grade 8 and below.”